Making Contact

Nomi Prins, journalist and a former managing director of Goldman Sachs, discusses her book All the Presidents’ Bankers, the hidden alliances that drive American power. Prins retraces the relationship between American financiers and presidents stretching more than a century. From family friends, trusted confidants to the present day; how the relationship has deteriorated and presidents have lost control of the economy. Special thanks to Pirate TV for the original recording from June 17, 2014. Featuring:    Nomi Prins , journalist and author of All the Presidents’ Bankers, the hidden alliances that drive American power.

The Zapatistas are a group in the southern state of Chiapas, Mexico working to bring democracy to their country and their local communities. 20 years after their founding, the group’s influences has spread far beyond Mexico’s border through music and art. On this edition of Making Contact producer Alejandro Rosas explores how Zapatismo has influenced those in the U.S. –including himself. Special thanks to Claire Schoen and the University of California Berkeley, School of Journalism. Featuring: Hector Flores, Las Cafeteras member Margaret Chowning, University of California at Berkeley professor of Mexican history Emory Douglas, former Black Panther Party Minister of Culture

The official Day to Commemorate Agent Orange victims is August 10th and marks the start of the US military’s decade of massive chemical warfare in Vietnam in 1961. Combat, chemicals, and corporations.  We’ll look at the legacy of Agent Orange,  a toxic defoliant. Featuring:Ngo Thanh Nhan, co-coordinator Vietnam Agent Orange Relief and Responsibility Campaign; Fred Wilcox scholar and author: Waiting for An Army To Die and Scorched Earth; Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange featured in the KQED segments

On last week’s show we brought you to Idaho and Montana, where hundreds of trucks were routed to haul gigantic mining equipment to the Tar Sands oil fields of Alberta Canada, but an alliance of citizens and community groups was able to block the transport through environmentally sensitive land. This week we continue the saga of the megaloads heading to the Tar Sands through the Pacific Northwest and Northern Rockies. We also follow two more tendrils of the Tar Sands project stretching from Alberta to the coast of British Columbia. This is the second of a two part special, on the growing resistance to the tar sands, produced by Barbara Bernstein. Listen the the first part here. Featuring: Kevin Lewis, Idaho Rivers United conservation director Linwood Laughy, writer & historian Borg Hendrickson, Clearwater Country co-author Andrew Nikiforuk, Tar Sands: Dirty Oil and the Future of a Continent author Bob Skinner, Canada School of Energy and the Environment interim director Annick Smith, A River Runs Through It co-producer Bob Gentry, environmental attorney Steven Hawley, Recovering a Lost River author David James Duncan, The Heart of the Monster co-author Zack Porter, All Against The Haul executive director Steve Seninger, University of Montana economist Spider McKnight, All Against the Haul communications specialist

The Canadian Tar Sands is the largest industrial project on earth. And the potential environmental consequences have brought together citizens from across borders, to fight its rippling effects. This is the first of a two part special, on the growing resistance to the tarsands, produces by Barbara Bernstein. Featuring: Kevin Lewis, Idaho Rivers United conservation director Linwood Laughy, writer & historian Borg Hendrickson, Clearwater Country co-author Andrew Nikiforuk, Tar Sands: Dirty Oil and the Future of a Continent author Bob Skinner, Canada School of Energy and the Environment interim director Annick Smith, A River Runs Through It co-producer Bob Gentry, environmental attorney Steven Hawley, Recovering a Lost River author David James Duncan, The Heart of the Monster co-author Zack Porter, All Against The Haul executive director Steve Seninger, University of Montana economist Spider McKnight, All Against the Haul communications specialist

Natural healing can take many forms.  These days, the Latin American “curandera” is re-emerging in the US, after generations of going underground. On this edition, producer Erica Hellerstein takes us on a journey to identity through an ancient medicinal practice. Featuring:    Lauren Villa, UC Berkeley Graduate Student Atava Swiecicki Garcia Healer Sandra Pacheco, Healer and Professor of Chicana Latina Indigenous Studies at the California Institute of Integral Studies Patricia Torres, owner of Mystical Collections Anna, Psychotherapist and Sol Collective Member Lauren Villa’s father

We profile women fighting the expansion of global militarism and violence. Korean sister Stella Soh campaigns to save an UNESCO world heritage site from a planned military base. US activist Kathy Kelly founded Voices for Creative Nonviolence. And Brazilian Miriam Nobre works with the World March of Women. Featuring:    Sister Stella Soh, Catholic Nun and activist with Save Jeju Island Kathy Kelly, Voices for Creative Nonviolence co-coordinator Miriam Nobre, Coordinator Of The International Secretariat Of The World March Of Women 

Victims and perpetrators sitting down face to face…it can help heal their wounds, and our society. Incarcerating our way out of crime clearly hasn’t worked, and it’s costing us billions. Meanwhile, school suspensions are reaching record highs. Now, Institutions across US are finally starting to consider problem solving methods other than punishment.  Restorative justice is gaining ground–in the schools, and behind bars. Featuring:    Paul Jacobsen, Rosa Parks elementary school principal Mekaylah Porter, Marilyn, Rosa Parks elementary students Yari Sandel, restorative justice coordinator Helen Parker, San Francisco’s restorative practices department coach Sonya Shah, Insight Prison Project Justice Program Director Nancy Potts, mother of son killed by drunk driver Chris Scezech, drunk driver Radha Stern, mother of murder victim Sam Johnson, San Quentin prison inmate

Rodeo is a part of life for many Americans. But if you’re an LGBTQ rodeo fan participating in the sport you love can mean hiding part of who you are to fit in. But a tight knit group of queer cowboys has found a way to live the country and Western lifestyle in their own way.  You don’t often hear the words “gay” and “rodeo” together. On this edition Producer Vanessa Rancaño brings us one bull rider’s story. Featuring:    Jason Strand, bull rider Stud Monkey & David Grub, rodeo competitors Clint Coil, rodeo judge and Stud Monkey’s partner Judy Munson, Gay Games Rodeo Committee Chair Darcey Ward, arena crew member Rob Matyska, arena crew coordinator Tom Porter, rodeo fan and David’s partner Bill Lyle & Jane Silva, co-owners of The Thrill at Morgan Hill Rodeo Company Steve Wollert, longtime IGRA member Michael Weldert, rodeo fan Edwin & Romiro, Bill Lyle’s employees Will Ikeman, Jason’s husband

More than 60 countries either ban or require labeling on GMO foods; the US is not one of them. As GMO regulation moves to a local level, frustrated consumers and farmers are pushing for state or county regulations, but the seed and pesticide companies are fighting back. Today, we bring you a special episode investigating corporate control of our democracy and our dinner plates. This program is part of What the Fork, a collaboration between Making Contact, Center for Media and Democracy/The Progressive Magazine and Food Democracy Now. Featuring:    Rebecca Wilce, Progressive and ALEC Exposed reporter Marcia Ishii-Eieman, Pesticide Action Network senior scientist Don Tipping, Seven Seeds Farm owner Chris Hardy, Rogue valley farmer Elise Higley, Our Family Farms Coalition leader Magdeleno Rose-Avila, Yes on 15-119 volunteer Barry Bushue, American Farm Bureau vice president Klayton Kubo, Kauai citizen Gary Hooser, Kauai County Council member Dr. Judy Shabert, Harvard Physician Chris Broussard, Whinney Hee, James Masey, concerned Kauai residents Dean Okimoro, Farm Bureau Association president David Louie, Hawaii Attorney General Harry Stalford & Willow Coberly, Stalford Seed Farms farmers