The Shortwave Report

This week's show features stories from France 24, Radio Deutsche-Welle, France 24, and Radio Havana Cuba.

http://youthspeaksout.net/swr220805.mp3 (29:00)

From JAPAN- Authorities have approved the plans for facilities and an underground tunnel to dump the waste water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean. Japan has experienced many rainfall records in the past week, up to 560 mm or 22 inches in a day, leading to floods and landslides. Drought conditions in Europe have worsened. In Japan Covid cases are surging at an unprecedented level. UN delegates are debating how to stop nuclear warfare from ever happening again. In the wake of Pelosi's controversial visit to Taiwan, China has launched military drills in the region, with 5 missiles landing in waters claimed by Japan.

From GERMANY- An analyst describes why the timing of Pelosi's Taiwan trip was very sensitive to the Chinese leadership, and how it will increase the militarization and economic conflict in the region. Then brief reports on Myanmar, forest fires in Portugal and Spain, womens groups in Chile are campaigning for a new constitution, and the first ship carrying grain from Ukraine is on its way to Lebanon.

From FRANCE- In Yemen the two month truce in fighting has been extended with a commitment to intensify negotiations to reach an expanded truce, though much of the deal is controversial.

From CUBA- Colombian VP-elect Francia Marquez met with former Bolivian President Evo Morales on her tour promoting a united and sovereign Latin America. There has been a Summit of Indigenous Peoples in Colombia concluded demanding that the humanitarian, economic, and environmental emergency of the indigenous people be immediately decreed. Indigenous Australian Green senator Lidia Thorpe blasted Queen Elizabeth 2 as a colonizing queen. Then a Viewpoint on the Supreme Court of the UK, which has denied Venezuela access to their gold reserves deposited in London- a judge explained that the UK recognizes Juan Guaido as President, not Nicolas Maduro.

This week's show features stories from France 24, Radio Havana Cuba, and NHK Japan.

http://youthspeaksout.net/swr220729.mp3 (29:00)

From FRANCE- Giant oil corporations announced yet another quarter of record breaking profits- some countries are considering a temporary or windfall tax on the companies and some are establishing government refunds for consumers. Overshoot Day is the day of the calendar year when humans have consumed all the resources that the earth can generate for that year- every year it is becoming earlier and this year it was reached on July 28th- in 1970 it was reached on December 31st. The date is calculated by the Global Footprint Network, and a spokesperson for them explains the increasing threat and the search for alternatives. Due to a temporary cutback in gas supplies from Russia, EU members agreed to accept a 15% cutback in gas use from August to March.

From CUBA- A Viewpoint on the violent gang chaos in Haiti, saying it is the result of centuries of foreign intervention, large business consortiums, and NGOs (Non-governmental Organizations)- as well as the 2010 earthquake and last years presidential assassination. The first African woman Vice-President of Colombia, Francia Marquez, is touring other South American countries, talking about integration between nations. In the UK Palestinian supporters are disrupting work at companies manufacturing weapons for Israel. In NYC environmental activists declared a climate emergency as a climate clock moved from 7 years to 6.

From JAPAN- Troops in Taiwan are holding large-scale military exercises this week, and mainland China became very agitated. A group of Japanese lawmakers is calling on the government for a stronger response to recent executions by Myanmar's junta. Japan has become the worlds hotspot of Covid infections according to the WHO. Railway workers in Britain have staged a walkout for higher wages to match inflation.

This week's show features stories from NHK Japan, Radio Deutsche-Welle, and Radio Havana Cuba.

http://youthspeaksout.net/swr220722.mp3 (29:00)

From JAPAN- New Covid infections in Japan are at the highest level ever. Japanese anti-nuclear weapon activists have made 5 demands on the government ahead of a review conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in New York. Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov says Western weapon shipments to Ukraine have led to expanded objectives in the war. Russian oil and gas sales to China have seriously increased to compensate for US led sanctions. The UK and other European countries experienced historical high temperatures this week, with many wildfires in the southern regions.

From GERMANY- A compilation of reports on the extreme temperatures and fires in Europe, highlighting the consequences of global warming. An interview with a meteorologist who says this weather is a preview of what is to come. Closed door climate change talks are underway in Berlin with 40 countries attending. A Swiss climate scientist affirms that this extreme heat is going to increase with global warming, unless immediate reductions in carbon use are implemented. A Climate Scientist says that the heat waves were predicted decades ago but not acted upon, and that human activity has brought it on.

From CUBA- Doctors and nurses with Extinction Rebellion are acting on the medical emergency caused by global warming. Mexican President Obrador sent Biden a personal letter defending Julian Assange and offering him protection. John Bolton, former National Security Advisor, bragged on CNN about his involvement in attempted coups, most notably Venezuela. Then a Viewpoint on Joe Biden’s tour of the Middle East.

This week's show features stories from France 24, George Galloway, NHK Japan, and Radio Havana Cuba.

http://youthspeaksout.net/swr220715.mp3 (29:00)

From FRANCE- The heatwave and fires continue to spread in Europe, 40 degrees Celsius is 104 Fahrenheit. Then a brief review of world response to the resignation of Boris Johnson as PM of the UK.

From GEORGE GALLOWAY- George Galloways Mother of all Talk Shows. This is an excerpt of a conversation George had with Scottish political writer James Melville about who will replace Boris Johnson as the UK PM.

From JAPAN- 4 former executives of TEPCO, the company that manages the Fukushima nuclear power plants, were ordered by a court to pay $97 billion in damages to the utility. Authorities in Tokyo have raised the Covid alert to the highest level as the infection is doubling each week. South Korea finished four days of joint drills with US forces. Shinzo Abe, former Prime Minister of Japan, was assassinated while campaigning for another candidate- Japanese police revealed that the assassin was angry at Abe because his mother had donated all her wealth to the Unification Church, known in the US as moonies.

From CUBA- First a Viewpoint on the assassination of former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe, pointing out how rare gun violence in Japan is, and how Abe moved Japan to develop a serious military force, reinterpreting Article 9 of the constitution to end pacifism. The Cuban President Diaz-Canel reacted to US and EU statements praising the protest and riot in Cuba a year ago, which Cuba alleges was directed by people in the US. Then an American opinion piece comparing Joe Biden's criticisms of Cuba with equivalent social realities in the US. Venezuela is negotiating cooperation and trade with the EU. Environmental and indigenous groups are concerned by new proposed oil and gas development in northern Alaska. Trump is visiting Alaska to help Sarah Palin campaign for Congress.

This week's show features stories from France 24, Radio Deutsche-Welle, Radio Havana Cuba, and NHK Japan.

http://youthspeaksout.net/swr220708.mp3 (29:00)

From FRANCE- I do the final production for the SWR on Thursday morning and today Boris Johnson has resigned as PM of the UK- so the reports I had about the possibility that this might happen are going to be replaced by a survey of Johnson's political arc. Then a piece on what the US Supreme Court ruling on environmental protections might mean for a global effort to attain the Paris accords on climate change.

From GERMANY- Quick reports on an avalanche in Italy, repeating floods in Australia, fires in Spain, and drought in Europe. Then a report on European nations trying to come to terms with climate change. 40 degrees Celsius is 104 Fahrenheit. EU lawmakers voted to classify nuclear and gas power plants as sustainable investments, which many call greenwashing.

From CUBA- The Biden administration has decided to restart oil and gas leases on public lands in the US and environmental groups have responded with lawsuits. Bolivian President Arce has warned social organizations about the resurgence of the right wing sectors who plotted the 2019 coup d'etat against Evo Morales. Newly released video shows relative calm when Shireen Abu Akleh was murdered while covering Israeli military action in Palestine- the US says that there is no absolute evidence that an Israeli soldier fired the shot. Then a Viewpoint on the NATO meeting in Madrid- the peacekeeper role of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is questioned, along with the European acceptance of the list of enemies written by Washington.

From JAPAN- The new South Korean president has directed the military to retaliate against any provocative actions by the North, and increased US military involvement. The WHO has warned that coronavirus infections are surging from new sub-variants. In Switzerland a pact was signed to divide up the reconstruction costs in Ukraine- Ukraine says it will cost $750 billion. The Dalai Lama had another birthday and some Indian leader helped to celebrate.

From GERMANY- First an interview with Luisa Neubauer, one of the founders of the German school strike for climate, known as Fridays For Future. She discusses news that Germany may extend its use of coal for electricity, and the state of climate activism after the pandemic and the war in Ukraine. A report on decisions made at the G7 meeting in Germany, which focused more on the war in Ukraine and the increase in the NATO military buildup, than on the climate crisis which had been the original agenda.

From GEORGE GALLOWAY- George Galloway interviewed a group of journalists on the emerging two world orders. One of the speakers was Johnny Miller, who is reporting live from Donbas in eastern Ukraine. He explains that are almost no western reporters on the ground in the region leading to a very incomplete view of what is happening in that region, where civilian areas are being bombed daily by Ukrainian forces with weapons supplied from the US and Europe. He says the Russian speaking citizens say that they have been under attack since 2014, and that both the Russian and Ukrainian sides are misreporting events and the roots of the conflict.

From JAPAN- NATO held a summit in Madrid, with Sweden and Finland applying for membership- the leaders endorsed describing Russia as a direct threat to the alliance, and discussed threats in Asia. North Korea accused NATO of attempting to create an Asian version of the military pact. The Taliban asked the international community for support after a deadly earthquake, but many governments do not recognize the Taliban because of their failure to fully protect women's human rights.

From CUBA- The UN Human Rights leader Michelle Bachelet called the US Supreme Court dismissal of Roe V Wade as a huge blow to women's human rights. Japan is experiencing record shattering heat and an early end of the rain season. Thousands gathered in Madrid to protest the NATO summit, calling for US troops to withdraw from Europe.

This week's edition begins with a progress report on the UN Treaty to Eliminate Nuclear Weapons, Mexican President Obrador calls on Biden to release Julian Assange, Colombians elect a left-wing president, and BRICS holds its 14th summit. With reports frpm Japan, Cuba, and Germany.

http://youthspeaksout.net/swr220624.mp3 (29:00)

From JAPAN- In Austria the first progress report on the UN treaty to eliminate nuclear weapons was held- the countries possessing nuclear weapons were absent along with those under nuclear umbrellas like NATO and Japan- 30 nations attended as observers. The military junta in Myanmar announced that opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been moved to solitary confinement in a prison- so far the Nobel Peace Prize laureate has been found guilty of 6 charges with an 11 year sentence- over 2000 civilians have been killed, as fighting continues between the military and pro-democracy forces. The US will limit the use of anti-personnel land mines with the exception of the Korean peninsula. European countries wanting to move away from the use of coal in power generation are reconsidering because of the uncertainty of natural gas from Russia.

From CUBA- Cuban President Diaz-Canel urged the increase in the use of solar energy at the start of a national renewable energy fair. Mexican President Obrador is calling on Joe Biden to drop charges against Julian Assange- the Mexican government previously granted asylum to the founder of Wikileaks. Obrador described Julian as the best journalist of our time in the world, and a prisoner of conscience. The new Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese, has rejected calls for him to publicly demand the release of Australian citizen Assange. Colombians elected former rebel Gustavo Petro as president and Francia Marquez as vice-president in a historic vote. The US military has expanded its illegal bases in eastern Syria along with more military convoys in the area.

From GERMANY- BRICS, an acronym for the 5 major emerging economies- Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa- held its 14th summit- the goal was to produce a plan for an era of global development- the 5 nations represent 40% of the world population and 25% of the global GDP. The war in Ukraine has strengthened ties between Russia and the other four members, all of whom support Russia with increased trade following US/EU sanctions.

"The sheep will spend its entire life fearing the wolf, only to be eaten by the shepherd."

--African Proverb

Dan Roberts

Shortwave Report-

www.outfarpress.com

YouthSpeaksOut!-

www.youthspeaksout.net

This week's show features stories from NHK Japan, George Galloway, Radio Deutsche-Welle, and Radio Havana Cuba.

http://youthspeaksout.net/swr220617.mp3 (29:00)

From JAPAN- Tokyo will begin issuing partnership certificates to same sex couples in November. North Korea criticized the strengthening of security ties between South Korea and the US, saying it was a prelude to WW3. In India remarks by 2 ruling party officials led to violent Moslem protests, which resulted in arrests, deaths, and the destruction of homes. The Chinese President has shown support for Putin despite warnings from western leaders. Ukraine says it only has ten percent of the weapons they need to defeat Russia.

From GALLOWAY- The former member of Parliament spoke with Joe Lauria, editor of Consortium News. They discuss the shifting and unreliable reporting from Ukraine, the goal of US sanctions against Russia being the removal of Putin as leader, the creation of a financial system dividing the world into two sides, and the economic penalty citizens in the US and Europe are experiencing. They say that the west is only about 15% of the global population, but that we think of ourselves as leaders of the world- a belief arising from centuries of dominating and colonizing Asia and the global south.

From GERMANY- The UN Refugee Agency reported that 100 million people are currently forcibly displaced, double that of 10 years ago. The British government plan to force illegal immigrants to Rwanda was stopped at the last minute by the European Court of Human Rights.

From CUBA- Following the arrest of their leader, indigenous people in Ecuador are calling for an uprising against the violation of human rights in the country. There are conflicting reports from Brazil about the missing British journalist Dom Phillips and the indigenous expert. Iran suspects Israel poisoned two of their scientists. The UN Human Rights Chief has called on Israel to open an investigation into the murder of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh.

This week's show features stories from Radio Deutsche-Welle, France 24, Radio Havana Cuba, and NHK Japan..

http://youthspeaksout.net/swr220610.mp3 (29:00)

From GERMANY- Human Rights groups in the UK are attempting to block the British government plans to send asylum seekers to Rwanda. Angela Merkel defended her policies toward Russia while she was Chancellor. The Belgian king is visiting the DRC in an attempt at reconciliation. Russia claimed the recent attacks on Kiev were targeting recently delivered western military equipment. The European Parliament has endorsed a ban on internal combustion cars beginning in 2035.

From FRANCE- In France police violence against citizens is becoming a top campaign issue in this weekends legislative elections. French President Macron has been criticized for continuing to dialogue with Putin to reach a diplomatic solution to the war. It was the 50th anniversary of the photograph of a 9 year old Vietnamese girl, Kim Phuc, running after she had been burned by a Napalm attack. Wednesday was World Ocean Day and France 24 interviewed Lamya Essemlali the president of Sea Shepherd France. A warning was issued about arsenic poisoning if the Great Salt Lake in Utah keeps shrinking from climate change.

From CUBA- More Latin American leaders refused to attend the Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles because the Biden administration banned Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua from attending. Activists are holding a Peoples Summit for Democracy simultaneously. The Bolivian government has suggested a 15 year prison sentence for coup leader Jeanine Anez. Another environmental reporter has been assassinated in Honduras. The Washington Post reported on the US role in the Saudi bombings in Yemen. Syrian air defenses intercepted the latest missile attack from Israel.

From JAPAN- South Korean and US fighter jets flew over the Yellow Sea as a warning to North Korea. Russia accused Washington of mistreating Russian journalists in the US. The EU plans to impose gender quotas as a way to get more women on corporate boards.

This week's show features stories from NHK Japan, Radio Havana Cuba, and Radio Deutsche-Welle.

http://youthspeaksout.net/swr220603.mp3 (29:00)

From JAPAN- A court in Japan agreed with citizens who want to keep a nuclear power plant from coming back on line. The Chinese Foreign Minister met with 10 Pacific Islands nations on trade and security but no agreements were reached. Russia reacted sharply with new US plans to give Ukraine longer range missiles, saying that it will not improve chances of negotiations to end the conflict. US Secretary of State Blinken said that there are many months of conflict in the future. Canadian PM has proposed new laws to implement a national freeze on handgun ownership. The World Meteorological Organization says that there is a 50 percent chance that the average global temperature will reach a critical threshold by 2026.

From CUBA- The President of Honduras condemned the assassination of the environmental prosecutor Karen Almendares last Friday. In Brazil massive floods and landslides left over 100 people dead. Then a Viewpoint on the significant primary presidential election in Colombia, which will lead to a June 19th runoff between leftist former guerrilla Gustavo Petro and wealthy businessman Rodolfo Hernandez- Colombia has not had a progressive government in 60 years. Tens of thousands of flag waving ultra-nationalist Israelis marched near the al-Aqsa mosque, with some storming the compound- dozens of Palestinians were arrested and 165 were injured.

From GERMANY- Mexican President Obrador banned the sale of e-cigarettes. Voters in Denmark chose to back a referendum to join the EU common defense policy. In Afghanistan the Taliban have begun enforcing a ban on opium poppy cultivation- poverty and drought stricken farmers have not succeeded at establishing other crops to provide an income.