Airwaves & Liberty

In case you missed the news, Utah Phillips died late last week of complications related to congestive heart failure. He was 73.

Utah Phillips was one of my favorite performers and inspirations. I got the opportunity to see him perform in Madison a few years ago one of his last tours, and it was terrific. More than terrific - it filled me with joy, gave me a dose of labor & folk history, and inspired me to do good work. And it was fun! It’s a rare performer who can deliver all that in a single evening performance. In fact, I can’t say I’ve been as impressed with any show since.

Scooter wrote the following comments to the Grassroots Radio Coalition, and I think they provide a great epitaph:

Utah Phillips was the Kind Uncle of the entire human race.

Which is one hell of a thing to be, but I noticed Utah Phillips because he did radio that didn’t suck, which is not easy.

Utah Phillips talked right into the best feelings about yourself and the world. He knew how to make you love yourself. He was just an old hobo, pissed off at the system, and full of love for me and the rest of us. Seek his pissed offedness.

And find his love.

A good start for anyone’s journey

Now for the audio…

KPFA folk show host Robbie Osman did a two hour tribute to Utah Phillips on last Sunday’s “Across the Great Divide.” You can listen to the show here:

On Tuesday’s Democracy Now, they replayed a January 2004 they conducted with Utah Phillips. Listen here:

Utah hosted a show called Loafer’s Glory from KVMR in Nevada City in the late 1990s/early 2000s, which was syndicated on the Pacifica network. Information about the show and CD sales info can be found at utahphillips.com. Also, Steve Baker from KVMR has posted three classic episodes at the KVMR Loafer’s Glory page.

The family requests memorial donations to Hospitality House, P.O. Box 3223, Grass Valley, California 95945; (530) 271-7144; www.hospitalityhouseshelter.org

Media Advisory: May 27, 2008
Contact: Brian DeShazor 800.735.0230 ext 263, bdeshazor[at]pacificaradioarchives.org

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Historic Speeches 1968:
Pacifica Radio Archives Preservation & Access Project

A young and vital Democratic United States Senator battles to win his party’s nomination for President. He speaks out against an unpopular war, environmental destruction, racial inequality and mounting economic injustice. About to deliver a pivotal speech, he was assassinated on June 4, 1968 at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, California.

“For all of our wealth, and all of our power, all of our statistics of our gross national product [GNP], cannot make up the satisfaction, the purpose, and the dignity of our lives… [T]he gross national product…counts air pollution, jails, the destruction of the redwoods…the equipment for police to put down riots, and television programs that glorify violence in order to sell toys to our children.”

– Robert F. Kennedy, June 4, 1968

RFK’s words convey a relevance and urgency as true to us now, as they did 40 years ago. In the temperature and humidity-controlled vaults of the Pacifica Radio Archives in Los Angeles are his compelling and prophetic words as broadcast on the first alternative, listener-supported radio stations in the nation: KPFA (Berkeley), KPFK (Los Angeles), WBAI (NYC), WPFW (D.C.), KPFT (Houston, TX).

The Pacifica Radio Archives (PRA) has recently discovered and restored three historic reel-to-reel audio tape recordings which capture and transmit RFK’s message:

1. June 4, 1968, moments before his assassination, Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles
2. May 24, 1968, with Republican business executives at the Beverly Hilton, Los Angeles
3. April 19, 1968, speech at the Biltmore Hotel, Los Angeles before business and financial executives sponsored by the Town Hall of Southern California. Includes Q & A.

These recordings are available to students, scholars, educators, authors, artists and documentarians.

For more information about these, and other recently restored recordings from the Pacifica Radio Archives, check out the 1968 Revolution Rewind Project on your local Pacifica Radio station, or go to:
http://www.pacificaradioarchives.org/projects/revolution/index.html

CONTACT: Brian DeShazor, Director, Pacifica Radio Archives
(800) 735 0230 X 263, pacarchive[at]aol.com

Funded, in part, by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

The 13th annual Grassroots Radio Conference is happening this July out in Portland, hosted by the good folks at KBOO. Unfortunately, I don’t think I’ll be able to make it, but GRCs are usually pretty fun - if you have a chance, check it out.
~Nathan

- - - - -

Hello!

Yes! GRC-13 is happening in Portland, July 25 - 27, at Portland State University, primarily at the Native American Student and Community Center. We would love to have workshops and panel discussions in the following areas (and more— what are your ideas???):

» Live remote broadcasts
» Diversity issues – taking out barriers to inclusion
» Addressing “isms” – creating social change within our stations
» Role of community radio in disaster response
» Writing for radio
» FCC issues – current topics and concerns
» Multi-media challenges and opportunities
» Internet streaming
» Hands on production track
§ Interviewing skills
§ Storytelling
§ News reporting basics
§ Field recording
» Fundraising—beyond the membership drive
» Youth radio
» Crisis management – when things go awry
» Art of broadcast—how to make compelling radio that works for listeners
» Music & mission
» Radio theater
» Collaborations between stations
» Functional collectives
» Volunteer recruitment
» Non-violent communication within stations / conflict resolution
» DIY – equipment / studios and ???

We have some information at our website www.kboo.fm/grc, and hope to have online registration working by next week.

The cost of this conference will be $110, and includes reception on Thursday evening, breakfast & lunch during the three days of the conference and all workshops / events.

There are various housing options, including rooms at the University Place Hotel. We have negotiated a special price of $109 plus tax, and it is 4 blocks from the conference.This is a flat rate, good for one to four persons per room. The rate is good July 23 through July 29. Each room has two double beds. The number of rooms at this rate is limited, so reserve now. Ask for the “KBOO Grassroots Radio Conference” rate. www.uplace.pdx.edu 866-845-4647.

KBOO is happy to try to arrange homestays for people that would like to stay with a KBOO volunteer (this is a free option), or, there are two hostels within a couple of miles of the conference (and on good public transportation / bike routes).

You must arrange your own housing, or let us know soon if you need a homestay arranged.

Please let me know if you are interested in leading a workshop or participating in a panel discussion. The list of workshop ideas is not exhaustive, if you have other ideas, just let me know!

We are very much looking forward to hosting this conference! We are working with KPCN-lpfm, in Woodburn (many of you may have attended the Prometheus Barnraising to build that station in 2006), Portland Center for Public Humanities at PSU, PSU Department of English, PSU Department of Communications, and KPSU fm, to make this a truly memorable GRC.

I am very happy to answer any further questions you might have– just ask.

love and solidarity,
ani
aniraven[at]gmail.com

This email arrived in my inbox over the weekend. Thought you might like to check out this short film produced about WPFW host Robert Frye. Click for Part 1 and Part 2.

~Nathan

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Charles Francis
Subject: Pacifica.org: \”The Train\”/Robert Frye, WPFW

Hello, Nathan,

I am a fan of Robert Frye, “Captain Fly”, who does the Saturday Morning “house party” show on WPFW, Washington, D.C. His regular feature, “The Train” is the subject of my short film.

I have produced this film documentary, now posted on “YouTube”, entitled “The Train” With D.C.’s Captain Fly”, Part 1 and Part 2. “The Train” with D.C.’s Captain Fly is a result of a several hour long interview I conducted with Robert Frye in April at WPFW’s studio in Washington D.C. and in a number of locations around D.C., including the legendary Howard Theatre.

Thank you.

Charles Francis
Washington, D.C.

Got the following message today from Ernesto Aguilar, Program Director at KPFT, the Pacifica station in Houston:

Heya… we’re of course in drive, but just wanted to hip you all to the fact, as of yesterday, KPFT started airing Hard Knock Radio and Flashpoints daily on our HD-2 channel. We expect to start airing Sunday Salon this week too. Please feel free to let your programmers know, ask them to welcome Houston listeners. Hope y’all are well.

So cheers for KPFT! Not only are they now broadcasting TWO digital channels to the Houston and Galveston-area audiences, they are providing some airtime on their new HD-2 channel for other programs from around the Pacifica network.

Ernesto also tells me that they’ll be carrying the “Winter Soldier on the Hill” broadcast on their HD-2 channel this week. If you happen to have one of the new HD radios, or if you have around $200 to buy one, scroll on over to KPFT and check it out!

SPECIAL LIVE COVERAGE:
KPFA/ Pacifica Radio will provide coverage of “Winter Soldier on the Hill,” live from Washington D.C. on May 15th, 9am-1pm EDT.

Join hosts Aaron Glantz and Aimee Allison as they bring you this important and historic follow up to “Winter Soldier” and “Crisis in Veterans’ Healthcare.”

Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) and the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) present “Winter Soldier on the Hill.” Nine members of IVAW will testify under oath before the CPC about rules of engagement, the killing and abuse of civilians, the use of drop weapons, and the true consequences of the “surge.”

Tune into a live webstream of the broadcast here on Thursday morning, or look for recordings of the broadcast at Pacifica.org later that day.

HEARING PARTICIPANTS:
CPC Co-Chairs:
Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey
Congresswoman Barbara Lee
Congresswoman Maxine Waters

IVAW Testifiers:
Jason Lemieux, Former Marine Corp Sergeant
Scott Ewing, Former Army Cavalry Scout
Geoffrey Millard, Former Army National Guard
Kristofer Goldsmith, Former Army Sergeant
Vincent Emanuele, Former Marine Corp
James Gilligan, Former Marine Corp Corporal
Adam Kokesh, Former Marine Corp Sergeant
Sergio Kochergin, Former Scout/Sniper Marine Corp
Luis Montalvan, Former U.S. Army Captain

DATE: *THIS THURSDAY,* May 15th, 9am-1pm Eastern

TIME & SCHEDULE (all times Eastern):
9:00 - 9:30 AM EDT - Pre-show
9:30 - 12:30 PM EDT - Winter Soldier testimony before Congressional Progressive Caucus
12:30 - 1:00 PM EDT - Post show Wrap-up

In 1948, most Palestinians living in the newly declared state of Israel became refugees, and millions of Palestinians remain refugees around the world today. This May 15th will mark 60 years of dispossession - the 60-year anniversary of the “Nakba”, Arabic for “catastrophe.”

Pacifica radio will mark the occasion with a one-hour downloadable broadcast (which will be included in an 18 hour international broadcast — details below). In the hour, Coordinating Producer Ryme Katkhouda is bringing together Pacifica producers, as well as voices on the ground in Palestine and the surrounding region, to present a “Sankofa” - looking back so we can move forward.

Mixing speeches, interviews, songs and spoken word, the hour documents the history of the Nakba, survivor testimonies from Palestine and the diaspora, contemporary reconstruction and advancement projects in Palestine, looking at the Nakba in its regional context and reflecting on its impact which is shaping the current geo-politics of the region.

Look for the audio of the program in this space on May 15th.

—

Part of a marathon international broadcast…

RADIO FREE PALESTINE:
18-hour international radio broadcast on 60-years of Palestinian dispossession

MONTREAL, FRIDAY, MAY 9th — Join the International Middle East Media Center in Bethlehem (Palestine), in collaboration with CKUT 90.3fm in Montreal (Quebec, Canada), CHRY 105.5fm in Toronto (Ontario, Canada), CKDU 88.1fm in Halifax (Nova Scotia, Canada), and KBOO 90.7fm in Portland (Oregon, USA) for a historic international radio reflection of the Palestinian Nakba or catastrophe, including contributions from Pacifica Radio and Democracy Now!

Next Thursday, May 15th, 2008, commemorates 60 years of the Palestinian Nakba. In 1948, eighty-five percent of Palestinians living in what is today the state of Israel became refugees. More than 500 Palestinian villages were depopulated and then destroyed to prevent the return of the displaced native population. 60-years later, there are upwards of 7 million Palestinian refugees dispersed throughout the world and Palestinians abroad are the world’s oldest and largest refugee population, making-up more than one fourth of all refugees. Israel continues to occupy and colonize Palestinian land through the construction of Jewish only settlements, the Wall in the West Bank, and the collective punishment of civilians in the Gaza Strip.

On Thursday, May 15th from from 12am until 6pm (EDT), “Radio Free Palestine” will broadcast on these and many other topics concerning the the ongoing Nakba of the Palestinian people. A complete schedule is available online at www.imemc.org or email news[at]ckut.ca.

For Interviews Contact:
– George S. Rishmawi, International Middle East Media Center in Bethlehem (Palestine Mobile: 0599-180-872 / USA number: 989-607-9480)
– Ryme Katkhouda, WPFW/WBAI/Pacifica Radio (202-538-1331)
– Gretchen King, CKUT Radio Montreal (514-448-4041 x6788)

From KPFA Program Director Sasha Lilley:

The team that put together Winter Soldier has been nominated for a Project Censored Award!

We would like to congratulate Aimee Allison, Aaron Glantz, Esther Manilla, Michael Manoochehri, Jon Almeleh, Michael Yoshida, and the countless others who made the broadcast so successful! It’s an example of KPFA and Pacifica at its best.

In this episode of From the Vault, we explore how May Day celebrations manifest themselves in different ways here at home and around the world, using historic audio from Pacifica Radio Archives.

We begin with excerpts from an original Pacifica Radio Archives series called Club Evolution. We compiled archive material which captures the essence of May Day as it evolved from the commemoration of the struggles of the Labor Movement to include the fight for peace, equality, and justice. Author and activist Sabina Virgo weaves together these common threads in this inaugural program called May Day and the American Labor Movement.

Next, we look at how May Day is celebrated around the world as Pacifica correspondents Daniel Singer, Alan Snitow, and others report from Mexico City, Italy, Mozambique and Angola, in a program called May Day 1977.

Finally, while May Day celebrations in the United States are relatively tame compared to other parts of the world, WBAI producer Bruce Soloway, armed with a tape recorder and a New York City Police Department-issued press badge, reports on an especially confrontational May Day demonstration in 1971 from Washington D.C.

From the Vault is presented as part of the Pacifica Radio Archives Preservation and Access Project.

Listen here: