“I’m not a politician; I am a singer. Long ago, they said, ‘That one, she sings politics.’ I don’t sing politics; I merely sing the truth.” – Miriam Makeba
The Republic of Niger is the largest country in West Africa. The nation is currently experiencing the fallout of a military coup that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum. The Economic Community of West African STATES (ECOWAS) is a regional bloc of 15 countries in West Africa. Its influence and power is now being tested by the recent military coup in Niger. Dr. Wilmer Leon, host of “The Critical Hour” on Radio Sputnik takes a look at the situation with historian Dr. Gerald Horne. Horne holds the Moores Professorship of History and African American Studies at the University of Houston, and he’s the author of more than thirty books – including the latest, “The Counter-Revolution of 1836: Texas Slavery, Jim Crow and the Roots of U.S. Fascism” and “Revolting Capital: Racism and Radicalism in Washington, D.C., 1918-1968.”
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On Thursday August 10, the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, activated its standby troops for a possible military action to deal with the unfolding situation in Niger. According to Congolese political analyst Kambale Musavuli, any intervention by ECOWAS would not be well-received by the people of Niger. Find out more @ Daily Debrief, a show from the People’s Dispatch channel on YouTube.
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Climate Change is wreaking havoc on the entire planet. According to the Washington Post, the fires in Maui have left at least 89 people dead, and damaged or destroyed more than 2,200 structures and buildings. The wildfires are now being described as the deadliest natural disaster since Hawaii became a U.S. state in 1959.” Why is 2023 the hottest summer ever recorded? Verna Avery Brown, WPFW’s veteran host and producer, and two Climate Change experts – Dr. Brenda Ekwurzel and Dr. Susie Strife, examines the impact of Global Warming on the environment.
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San Francisco is ground central for Artificial Intelligence, or AI. The California Public Utility Commission has just voted to allow Google-owned Waymo and GM-owned Cruise to roll out thousands of robot taxis or autonomous vehicles on the streets. Tens of thousands of taxi workers and UBER Lyft drivers will be without a job! Governor Gavin Newsom’s appointed commission is packed with tech company executives who support deregulation. Commissioner John Arnold even worked as a chief counsel for Cruise. In 2020 Newsom received $10 million from Google in corporate donations. Workers, trade unionists and environmentalists spoke out in front of the Commission to oppose this Disney Dystopia, with capitalism and AI going wild for profits while destroying jobs. Pacifica’s Steve Zelzter brings us their voices.
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According to Goldman Sachs, Artificial Intelligence could eliminate 350 million jobs around the world. A panel was recently held on the threat of AI to working people in San Francisco. One of the speakers was Teamster 808 Secretary Treasurer Chris Silvera from New York City and he talked about these issues.
Host
Akua Holt
Producers
Akua Holt, Steve Zeltzer, and Polina Vasiliev.
Music
Return to Forever “Romantic Warrior”
