Tariq Ali in Madrid, Spain. Image by Flickr user Cordoba 2016.

It’s 2012, the world is calling for change, and in the U.S another presidential election is looming.  But, journalist Tariq Ali says the American public’s so-called ‘choices’ don’t present much in the way of options. On this edition, Ali speaks about the ‘extreme center’ and how Occupy and other emerging social movements are challenging the status quo.

Special thanks to the Lannan Foundation.

Featuring:

Longtime journalist and activist Tariq Ali, author of more than 20 books, including The Obama Syndrome, The Duel: Pakistan on the Flight Path of American Power, and Bush in Babylon: The Reconciliation of Iraq.

***WEB EXCLUSIVES***

Full speech by Tariq Ali with an introduction by Avi Lewis, a Canadian television journalist.

For More Information:

Tariq Ali
Lannan Foundation
The Guardian
New Left Review

Books/Articles:

Tariq Ali speaks about his book, “The Obama Syndrome: Surrender at Home, War Abroad” on Democracy Now

Music:

“Nefsi Atoub” by Lefty-M

Protest infront of the Syrian Embassy. Photo by Flickr (cc) user Maggie Osama.

As the Arab spring enters its second year, the popular uprising against the Syrian government continues. Scores are being killed by government forces, but international condemnation has not been enough to stop the violence.  Foreign correspondent Reese Erlich is one of the few foreign reporters who got into Syria to interview opposition demonstrators, Kurdish refugees, government officials and impassioned supporters of President Bashar al Assad. On this edition, An Inside look at the Syrian Uprising, produced by Reese Erlich.

The Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting provided a grant to Reese Erlich for his reporting from Syria.  Special thanks to Azad Diwani and Nabaz Shwani for translation and arranging interviews.

Featuring:

Leen, Ahmad, Taim, Mahmood, Syrian activists; Bouthaina Shaban, Syrian Presidential advisor; J. Toumajian, translator; Feras Dieb, Alawite businessman; Mohammad al Habash, Syrian Parliament member; Rana Issa, marketing and advertising business owner; Barkhodan Balo, Kurdish refugee; clothing store owner in Damascus souk.

For More Information:
Syrian American Council
Local Coordination Committees of Syria
Al-Jazeera spotlight on Syria
Free Syria
Razaniyyat
Syrian Arab News Agency
The Arab League
Syria Comment
Human Rights Watch
Pulitzer Center

Books/Articles:

Flash Mob For Syrian Freedom

Palestinian child with flag. Image via Flickr (cc) user Rusty Stewart.

US government support for Israel has never been stronger.  But now a consumer boycott of Israel is gaining steam, and Israeli government officials are being openly confronted and denounced wherever they travel.

Author and activist Ali Abunimah says that this is evidence of a global movement against Israeli government policy breaking through. On this edition, Ali Abunimah explains why he thinks Israel has ‘lost the argument’ over who’s right and wrong…and where he thinks the movement to free Palestine is headed next.

Special thanks to the Middle East Children’s Alliance and KPFA radio.

This program was funded in part by Left Tilt.

Featuring:

Ali Abunimah, Electronic Intifada founder.

***WEB EXTRAS***

 Full length Speech by Ali Abunimah, with Introduction by Alice Walker

Question and Answer Session with Ali Abunimah and Alice Walker

For More Information:

Electronic Intifada
MECA – Middle East Children Alliance
Arab American Action Network
Reut Institute
Stand with the Irvine 11
Rachel Corrie Foundation for Peace and Justice
Understanding the Goldstone Report
Left Tilt
KPFA Radio – Berkeley, CA

Articles/Blogs/Videos/Audio:

The Delegitimization Challenge: Creating a Political Firewall
Irvine 11 Verdict: Muslim Students Guilty Of Disrupting Speech
The Field Beyond Wrongdoing and Rightdoing:
A Study of Arab-Jewish Grassroots Dialogue Groups in the United States by Nurete L. Brenner

Music:

“Lamal Ftoor” by Ramallah Underground
“Beat” by 1criminale

Sign at NYC Occupy Wall Street Rally on October 8th, 2011, courtesy of (cc) Flickr user Downtown Traveler

Over two million Americans have fought in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. They return to a nation in economic crisis. A third of those veterans come home to face serious medical conditions. Many veterans now consider themselves the 99 percent, and have joined a second Occupation, Occupy Wall Street. On this edition, a special report on veterans standing in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street movements and an encore presentation about veterans returning home from war and the struggles they endure produced by Aaron Glantz.

Featuring:

Sgt. Shamar Thomas, marine veteran; Kurt Biddle, army veteran; Jeff Paterson, Courage To Resist; Jason Matherne, Iraq Veterans Against War; Joshua Shepherd, navy veteran; Douglass Connor, army veteran; Andrew Berends, The Blood of My Brother filmmaker; Michael Hall, former US Army staff sergeant; Rachel Feldstein, New Directions associate director; Joshua Kors, The Nation magazine correspondent; Zollie Goodman, former naval petty officer; Barack Obama, United States president; Todd Stenhouse, National Veterans Foundation spokesperson; Terry “T.J.” Boyd, former Marine Corps sergeant; Ron Finch, National Business Group on Health; Catherine Morris, Sierra College veterans’ counselor; Paul Sullivan, Veterans for Common Sense executive director.

This documentary was produced with support to Aaron Glantz from the Hechinger Institute for Education and the Media at Columbia University Teachers College and the Rosalynn Carter Journalism Fellowship program at the Carter Center. Thanks also to Mike Siv of New America Media.

For More Information:

Iraq Veterans Against the War
National Veterans Foundation
National Coalition for Homeless Veterans
Swords to Plowshares
Veterans for Common Sense
Veterans for Peace
Occupy Wall Street
Occupy Oakland

Articles/Blogs/Videos/Audio:

Sgt. Shamar Thomas Defends Occupy Wall Street
The War Comes Home: Washington’s Battle Against America’s Veterans
Veterans More Likely to be Homeless
Cost of Treating Veterans Will Rise Long Past Wars
Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan Not Worth the Cost, many US Veterans Say
Report: Meeting the Needs of Veterans In Today’s Labor Force 

Music:

“Next Bold Move” – Ani DiFranco
“What’s Going On” – Marvin Gaye
“Hero’s Song” – Brendan James

A moment of reflection at the Vietnam Memorial in Washington D.C. Credit: oneofthebrave/ Flickr

This week we mark the 10th anniversary of the U.S. war in Afghanistan.  Please listen to the voices of soldiers haunted by the killing and human suffering.

Like many soldiers returning home from Vietnam, former airforce captain S. Brian Willson became a peace activist.  One day in 1987, when he lost his legs during a protest against a shipment of weapons, it only strengthened his resolve.  It was his way of dealing with what he experienced at war…and now thousands of new veterans are trying to find their way.  On this edition, two generations of veterans cope with PTSD—looking to heal themselves and the world.

Featuring:

S. Brian Willson, author and Vietnam veteran; Drew Cameron, Iraq war veteran, and contributor to Warrior Writers: Move, Shoot and Communicate;  Matt Fuller, Afghanistan war veteran; Carolin Kunze, Matt Fuller’s fiance.

***WEB EXCLUSIVE***

For More Information:

S. Brian Willson
Drew Cameron
Warrior Writers: Move, Shoot and Communicate
Iraq Veterans Against the War
Vietnam Veterans Against the War
Veterans for Peace
The Peoples Republic of Paper
The Beat Museum
KPFA Radio – Berkeley, CA
Crosscurrents from KALW News
Courage To Resist
Scorched Earth: Legacies of Chemical Warfare in Vietnam (book)
Agent Orange Legacy (photos)

Music:

‘Ramshackle’ by Beck
‘Dance of the Seahorse’ by Gideon Freudmann

Woman at a protest in Union Square, San Francisco. Credit: romainguy/ Flickr

A new generation is telling their stories of overthrowing corrupt regimes.  And in the digital age, their lessons can spread more quickly than ever before.  But how does one organize a nation into revolt?  The answers may not be universal, but there’s lots of wisdom to be passed on. On this edition, revolutions past, present and future.  We’ll hear from Egyptian, Serbian, and Azerbaijani activists, about their work to topple undemocratic rulers.

Featuring:

Namees Arnous, Egyptian journalist; Ivan Marovic, co-founder of OTPOR; Arzu Geybullayeva, Azerbaijani blogger & organizer.

***WEB EXCLUSIVES***

Full-length Interview with Arzu Geybullayeva

Full-audio with the Azerbaijani blogger and organizer, conducted in May 2011.

Egyptian Journalists and the 2011 Egyptian Revolution

Full speech by Egyptian journalist Namees Arnous, about her participation in the 2011 Egyptian Revolution.  Recorded at the Narco News School of Authentic Journalism in May 2011

For More Information:

Flying Carpets and Broken Pipelines
Narco News
International Center on Non-Violent Conflict
A Force More Powerful
Journal of Conflict Transformation
Cyber Dissidents
Open Democracy
People Power: The Game of Civil Resistance
Movement.org

Articles, Blogs, Reports and Videos:

Who Really Brought Down Milosevic?
Tahrir Square as it Happened
Barrel of Laughs: A Dilemma Action explained

Music:

‘Habibi Min Zaman’ – Balkan Beat Box

US soldier in Tahwilla, Iraq. Credit: U.S. Army

Was mainstream media in cahoots with government forces in the lead up to the Iraq War? In his film, “The War You Don’t See,” Australian journalist John Pilger reveals evidence of American and British journalists failing to scrutinize evidence or dig for hard facts in the days before the 2003 invasion. He argues that embedded news reporters and their outlets simply towed official government lines, and that the public sees only a small portion of what’s really happening in battlefields.

Special thanks to KPFA radio.

Featuring:

John Pilger, journalist; Dan Rather, journalist; Bryan Whitman, US assistant secretary of defense; Melvin Goodman, former CIA analyst: Rageh Omaar, BBC news reporter; Dahr Jamail, independent journalist; David Rose, former Observer journalist; Steve Rendall, Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting; Fran Unsworth, BBC head of newsgathering; Scott Ritter, UN weapons inspector; Ethan McCord, former US soldier.

For more information:

John Pilger’s website
“The War You Don’t See” film
Fair and Accuracy in Reporting
Iraq War Logs
Iraq Body Count
Center for American Progress’ Iraq War Ledger
Committee to Protect Journalists

Articles, Blogs, Reports and Videos:

Committee to Protect Journalists: statistical profile of deaths in Iraq
Frontline’s Coverage on Iraq, Afghanistan and the War on Terror
Council on Foreign Relations’ Interactive Timeline of the Iraq War

Hidden Cost of War a 3-minute infographic movie illustrating a detailed break down of the price tag of the Iraq war conflict, from the current debts to the unseen costs for many years to come. The data is based on the book The Three Trillion Dollar War: The True Cost of the Iraq Conflict.

Music:

Green Day – 21 Guns
Coldplay – Violet Hill

Inter-Faith Protest Rally Against Islamophobia and Peter King's Congressional Hearings on Muslim Radicalization 2011 Credit: asterix611/ Flickr

Featuring:

Veena Dubal, Asian Law Caucus National Security and Civil Rights Program Staff Attorney; Lejla Duka, family member of the Fort Dix Five; Dominick Calsolaro, Albany Common Council Member; Noor Elashi, daughter of Ghassan Elashi of the Holy Land 5; Shaheena Parveen, mother of Siraj Matin; Marlene Jenkins, mother of Tarik Shaw; Sharmin Sadequee, sister of Shifa Sadequee; Tamer Mehanna, brother of Tariq Mehanna; Fred Korematsu, formerly interned Japanese American; John Frank, Clerk to Associate Supreme Court Justice Hugo L. Black; Tsuyako Kitashima, Nikkei for Civil Rights & Redress spokesperson; Donald Tamaki, lawyer for Fred Korematsu; Peter Irons, UC San Diego Constitutional Law Professor.

—WEB EXCLUSIVES—

NYC Town Hall on Preemptive Prosecution

Full audio from December 2010 NYC Town Hall featuring family members of “wrongly accused” terrorists. Recorded by Jaisal Noor.

Full-length Interview with Veena Dubal, Staff Attorney with the Asian Law Caucus

Dubal talks about Preemptive Prosecutions, racial profiling, Department of Justice and White House strategies, and the effect they have on Muslim, Arab, and South Asian communities. Is there a valid comparison to the Japanese internment during WWII?

——

For More Information:

ACLU-Northern California Civil Rights Groups Call on Bay Area Police Departments to Cease Joint Operations with the FBI
Asian Law Caucus San Francisco, CA
Coalition For a Safe San Francisco San Francisco, CA
Council on American Islamic Relations Washington, D.C.
Free the Fort Dix 5 Fort Dix, N.J.
Information on the Newburgh 4 Korematsu Institute San Francisco, CA
Manufacturing the Muslim Menace: A report by Political Research Associates
New York University School of Law Center for Human Rights and Global Justice
Nikkei for Civil Rights & Redress Of Civil Rights and Wrongs: The Fred Korematsu Story Project Salam
San Francisco Human Rights Commission San Francisco, C.A.
Sikh American Legal Defense & Education Fund (SALDEF) Sikh Coalition
10 Years After 9/11: National Priorities Project resources
Surveillance in the Homeland: Investigative reports: Truthout and ACLU project
David Ray Griffin
Noliesradio.org
Patriots Question 911
9/11 Ten Years Later: When State Crimes Against Democracy Succeed
NYPD CIA Anti-Terror Operations Conducted In Secret For Years

9/11 videos:

Beyond the Frame Alternative Perspectives on the War On Terrorism:  Klein Chomsky
Hijacking Catastrophe 9/11 Fear & the Selling of American Empire
Building a Landmark Event in the History of the 9/11 Truth Movement:  Susan Wolfe (19min in)
Making of Out of the Ashes: 9/11 Podcast
Out of the Ashes: 9/11 Trailer
RadioActive: 9/11 reflections by teens and women
Jeff Siddiqui, Pakistani-American, Muslim, blogger on his efforts to combat anti-Muslimism in the US

9/11 Audio (PRX):
Treating heroes still dealing with 9/11 related illnesses
Crockett Grabbe: the World Trade Center collapses were the result of pre-planted explosives
Hasan Elahi, “Hiding in Plain Sight”
Radio Rootz: Racial Profiling of the South Asians: Hear our Voices’

Articles, Blogs, Reports and Videos:

Muslims Reject SFPD Surveillance Program San Francisco Human Rights Commission Hearing:  US Law Enforcement Profiling & Surveillance of Muslims-Arabs-South Asians

Music:

Halou – Seperation
Halou – Alaska
Mark Lingard – In a Lonely Place

Photo courtesy of Ma'an News.

The American consensus on Israel and Palestine is breaking down. And Jewish Americans are playing a major role. But it’s not easy. On this edition: a Jewish American community divided. More and more ‘members of the tribe’ are breaking a long-standing taboo, and voicing criticism of the Israeli government.

Featuring:

Kayla Starr, Alexi Folger, & Joel Franquist; Jewish Voice for Peace members; Rob Kampeas, Jewish Telegraphic Agency Washington Bureau chief; Hadar Suskind, J Street vice president for strategy and policy; Alan Elsner, Israel Project communications director; Lynn Woolsey, California congresswoman; Elizabeth Weinstein, Mark Treas & Roe, Jewish Anti-Zionism conference participants; Greg Hom, International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network organizer; Deborah Kaufman & Alan Snitow, Between Two Worlds directors; Julie Feldman, Josh Schlessinger, Birthright participants; Joe Perlov, Israel Experts CEO.

Special thanks to Left Tilt Fund for partial funding of this program.

AUDIO/Video EXTRAS:

J-Street Challenges AIPAC

When it comes to US policy toward Israel, there has been one major voice shaping the debate. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee-generally referred to as AIPAC. The powerful lobbying group has been the guiding voice on the issue nearly as long as Israel has been a state…then 3 years ago, a new voice emerged — “J Street.” The group started with 3 employees, and from laptops at their kitchen tables J Street has grown to 50 staffers, and 175-thousand members across the country. They are, by their own definition, ‘Pro-Israel’ – But just what ‘pro-Israel means varies widely both in and outside the beltway…and since their founding, J-street has been subject to intense scrutiny of their funding, their relationships, and their allegiances. From Washington DC, Emily Friedman brings us the story of one of the most divisive Jewish groups in America

How Birthright Israel Works its Magic-produced by Kiera Feldman

Well aware of the need to shape the perspectives of future generations, the Israeli government, along with Jewish foundations and philanthropists, teamed up in 1999 to create what’s called the ‘birthright’ program. Any Jew under 27 years of age can sign up for an all-expense paid, 10 day trip to Israel. More than 250 thousand people have taken part in birthright, which includes tours of holy and historical sights, discussions on the history of Israel and the Jews, and lots of partying.

Birthright has been criticized for its one-sided history lessons, which some call propaganda. In 2010, journalist Kiera Feldman brought her audio recorder along on her birthright experience. She produced this piece for the Nation magazine, portions of which appeared on WBAI radio’s Beyond the Pale.

1st Ever Jewish Anti-Zionist Conference

In June 2010, more than 200 ‘anti-Zionists’ held a 3-day conference in Detroit, MI.

BDS Israel (Boycott, Divest, Sanction) Campaign Gains Steam with
TIAA-CREF Protest

Full Length interview with Alan Snitow and Deborah Kaufman, directors of
Between Two Worlds

Trailer for Between Two Worlds

For more information:

Jewish Voice For Peace
J Street
International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network (IJAN)
Between Two Worlds
We Divest
Tikkun Magazine, A Jewish Magazine, an Interfaith Movement
Boycott, Divest, Sanction (BDS) Movement
Middle East Children’s Alliance
JTA-Jewish telegraphic Agency
Israel Experts
The Israel Project
Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey
US Assembly of Jews Confronting Racism and Israeli Apartheid 2010
US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation
WBAI’s Beyond the Pale
True Torah: Jews Against Zionism
Thru Jerusalem by Ophir Kutiel 
Emergence Travel Agency—Invincible

Articles/Videos, etc.:

How Birthright Israel Works its Magic by Kiera Feldman
The Romance of Birthright Israel by Kiera Feldman
The Impact of Taglit-Birthright Israel: A Study by the Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies at Brandeis University
Life After Zionist Summer Camp by Allison Benedikt
Interview with Kiera Feldman
My Taglit-Birthright Israel experience by Rachel Marcuse
The Jews behind BDS
For American Jews, Dissent Against Israel Has Become Mainstream
Upheaval Productions interview with Dr. Hajo Meyer

Music:

“Thru Jerusalem” by Ophir Kutiel
“People Not Places” by Invincible

SCRIPT

Hom: “Anytime anyone says anything about Palestine, you get called a self-hating Jew, you get called a traitor, all these things.”

BLBRD: “As American Jews, we are the ones who have access and the potential to catalyze a transformation in Israeli culture and belief systems.”

Andrew Stelzer: The American consensus on Israel and Palestine is breaking down.  And Jewish Americans are playing a major role.  But it’s not easy.

BLBRD-Kaufman

Andrew Stelzer: On this edition…a Jewish American community divided.  More and more members of the tribe are breaking a long-standing taboo, and voicing criticism of the Israel government. I’m Andrew Stelzer, and this is Making Contact.  A program connecting people, vital ideas, and important information.

Singing (to the tune of “hello mudda”) “catapiller, youre a killer..”

Andrew Stelzer: It’s a warm winter day’s in San Francisco’s financial district.  As businessmen scurry, a small group of people are holding signs and singing songs about a boycott.

Kayla Starr: “My name is Kayla Star and I’m a Jewish woman whose concerned about the treatment that the Israeli government is been using against the Palestinians.  Killing them, jailing, them, walling them off, destroying their houses.  And so im part of an international campaign to divest…from Israel, to put economic pressure on Israel to change its policies towards Palestinians who are being oppressed.”

Andrew Stelzer: This protest is being held outside the offices of retirement investment firm, TIAA-CREF, the 87^th largest corporation in America.  One of TIAA CREF’s investments, is in the Caterpillar company – the makers of construction equipment, and according to protester Alexi Folger, that’s not all.

Alexi Folger: “they make D-9, mechanized weaponized bulldozers.  The only customer for those bulldozers is the Israeli army.  They do one thing, they are not construction equipment, they are destruction equipment..  they are used to destroy Palestinians homes, uproot olive trees, which are an important economic resources, and they have injured and killed civilians, including Rachel Corrie, who was run over by a caterpillar D-9 bulldozer while trying to defend a Palestinian home from destruction.”

Singing (to the tune of dradel)

“dozer dozer, dozer, I smash your house to clay….so boycott, boycott, boycott,…stop funding apartheid..”

Andrew Stelzer: This action is part of a growing nationwide campaign which is referred to in shorthand as “BDS”.  It stands for Boycotting, Divesting and Sanctioning both the state of Israel, and companies that play some role in the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land.

SINGING BACK UP

“…so boycott, boycott, boycott,…stop funding apartheid..”

The BDS campaign has targeted a few big companies, including Motorola, Northrup Grummun, and Caterpillar,  which aid in constructing Jewish settlements, or the separation wall, among other Israeli government initiatives,

Activist Joel Franquist, has several thousand dollars invested with TIAA_CREF–in a retirement fund from a previous job .  He says he thinks the campaign has a chance, because TIAA-CREF  prides itself on being socially responsible.

Joel Franquist: “They divested from Darfur, and companies doing business in Sudan, and so we see ourselves as just asking them to do a similar thing, to include the Israel-Palestine Conflict.”

Andrew Stelzer: TIAA–CREF hasn’t budget so far, but the BDS campaign is gaining steam.  Students at more than 17 Universities across the US have raised the issue of divestment with their administration or student government.  Some musicians and filmmakers have refused to perform in Israel, including Elvis Costello and Jean Luc Goddard.  Most telling, in July 2011, the Israeli government passed a law making it illegal for anyone in the country to publicly call for a boycott of Israel.  One possible reason for the success—a major component of the campaign has been the participation of Jews, and in particular, a group called ‘Jewish Voice For Peace’, which organized today’s protest.  Franquist is a member.

Joel Franquist: “It is true, fortunately or unfortunately, that as a Jew people may pay more attention to my opinion on this issue than if I weren’t.”

Andrew Stelzer: Changing public opinion, and government policy has brought American Jewish activists into a head on collision with one of the most powerful lobbying groups in the United States.  The American Israel Public Affairs Committee, generally referred to as AIPAC, has been the guiding voice for Congress on the issue, for nearly as long as Israel has been a state. But, in 2008  a new voice emerged – calling themselves “J Street.”

The group started with 3 employees, and from laptops at their kitchen tables, J Street has grown to 50 staffers, and 175-thousand members across the country.  They are, by their own definition, ‘Pro-Israel’, just like AIPAC – But just what ‘pro-Israel’ means varies widely both inside and outside the beltway.

From Washington DC, Emily Friedman brings us the story of one of the most divisive Jewish groups in America

J-STREET STORY by Emily Friedman 5:00-12:36

BREAK

Andrew Stelzer: You’re listening to “Making Contact,” a production of the National Radio Project.  If you’d like more information or for C-D copies of this program, please call 800-529-5736. To find out how to support us, download shows or get our podcast, go to radioproject.org We now return to Not My Zion: American Jews Divided on Israel and Palestine

people introduce themselves—going around in circle

Andrew Stelzer: A group of about 20 people are sitting in a circle introducing themselves, in a basement room near Wayne State University in Detroit.  This 3-day conference is the first one ever organized by the Jewish Anti-Zionist Network. 

TK 00 1:00—people introduce themselves—going around in circle (laughter)

Andrew Stelzer: Most of the 200 or so people here are young Americans, with a sprinkling of internationals.  Oberlin College student Elizabeth Weinstein is one of many here who say their religion, and their entire culture, has been hijacked by an ideology that they don’t share.  And it’s very difficult to even express those feelings in the American Jewish community.

Elizabeth Weinstein: “It’s really ingrained, you can criticize what Israel is doing, but it’s frowned upon as a Jew to be anti Zionist, its dangerous to something we worked so hard to fight, and make for ourselves.  That’s a dangerous assumption and being at a conference that’s explicitly anti-Zionist is exhilarating for me.”

Andrew Stelzer: The term anti-Zionist is kind of hard to define, but loosely, it means, everyone here opposes the idea that Israel should exclusively belong to Jews, and specifically, they don’t support ill treatment of Palestinians in the name of creating that Zionist homeland in Israel.

Some people here are religious, some not at all.  Most say this is the first time they’ve had a safe, but public, space to express their views.

Greg Hom:“The first line of attack against people, when they discuss Palestine, is that they’re anti-Semitic. So, that state claims to speak for all Jews. We’re here saying it doesn’t.”

Andrew Stelzer: Conference organizer Greg Hom works with the International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network.

Hom: “People who are in Jewish community are intimidated by mainstream Jewish community to not say these kinds of things.…Anytime anyone says anything about Palestine, you get called a self-hating Jew, you get called a traitor, all these things…

Traes: “This is a joint struggle, I think this is a struggle that belongs to the jews, and the Palestinians.  The Palestinians are the ones who are getting the sharp end of the stick.”

Andrew Stelzer: Mark Treas, moved from Russia, to Israel when he was 5, and then came to the US 5 years ago, at age 21.  He still has a brother who lives in Israel, and says he struggles in conversations with his own family—but he feels he has to try.

Treas: “…the only people who can physically end occupation are the jews in Palestine or Israel…as American Jews, we are the ones who have access and the potential to catalyze a transformation in Israeli culture and belief systems.  That’s why the first step lies in diaspora, as a Jewish movement that can infect Israeli Jews.”

Andrew Stelzer: The young people at this anti-Zionism conference are by all accounts, a small minority.  But their very existence indicates a growing disenchantment with Israel, particularly among young Jews.

Well aware of the need to shape the perspectives of future generations, the Israeli government, along with Jewish foundations and philanthropists, teamed up in 1999 to create what’s called the ‘birthright’ program.  Any Jew under 27 years of age can sign up for an all-expense paid, 10 day trip to Israel.   More than 250 thousand people have taken part in birthright, which includes tours of holy and historical sights, discussions on the history of Israel and the Jews, and lots of partying.

Birthright has been criticized for it’s one-sided history lessons, which some call propaganda.  In 2010, journalist Kiera Feldman brought her audio recorder along on her birthright experience.  Here are some excerpts from a piece she produced for WBAI radio’s Beyond the Pale.

BIRTHRIGHT by Kiera Feldman 17:00-22:26

Andrew Stelzer: Those were some excerpts from Kiera Feldmans radio piece ‘How Birthright Israel Works it’s Magic”.  You can find links to the full audio and accompanying article in the Nation Magazine at our website, radioproject-dot-org.  That story is one of an increasing body of media being produced, exploring the question of Jewish identity, and who gets to define what it is.

BETWEEN TWO WORLDS TRAILER CLIP

Andrew Stelzer: That’s it for this edition of Making Contact.

You can hear extended length interviews with some of the people featured in this show, on our website, radioproject-dot-org. Thanks for listening to Making Contact.

For a CD copy of this program, call the National Radio Project at 800 529-5736, or check out our website at radioproject.org to get a podcast, download past shows, or make a difference by supporting our work.  Like Making Contact on Facebook, or follow us on twitter—our handle is Making, underscore, contact.

Lisa Rudman is our Executive Director; Kyung Jin Lee and Esther Manilla, producers; Irene Florez, Web Editor, Karl Jagbandhansingh, Volunteer Coordinator; Lisa Bartfai, production intern, And Barbara Barnett, Dan Turner, Alfonso Hooker, Ron Rucker, Alton Byrd, Alex Collins, Katherine Brousseau, Katherine Lee, and Dashal Moore volunteers.

Oakland, CA Scraper krew, image courtesy of flickr user vkdir.

Communities across the country have embraced locally-grown food, fuel-efficient cars and other forms of environmentalism. While African-Americans haven’t been on widely credited, they are amongst the vanguard creating positive change. On this edition, we take you to a resettlement community in North Carolina, sustainable farms in Wisconsin and on a bike ride in California, where local black communities are making long-term impacts on the environment.

Special thanks to producers Zoe Sullivan and Alton Byrd.

Featuring:

Robert Pierce, marketing manager of South Madison Farmer’s Market, Madison coordinator for Growing Power; Shelley Pierce, staff member of Growing Power; Javier Vasquez, intern at Growing Power-Madison; Paris Mogo, agriculture extension officer in Nairobi, Kenya; Gary R. Grant, executive director of Concerned Citizens of Tillery, and other Tillery residents; Jenna Burton and Nick James, founders of Red, Bike and Green.

Audio Extras

Wisconsin farmers
In largely rural Wisconsin, the state’s Department of Agriculture says there are only 63 farms owned by African Americans, out of more than 73,000 in operation today.  But a few of those remaining black farmers are trying reconnect the black community with their not-so-distant past, and help improve their community’s health in the process.  From Madison, Zoe Sullivan has the story.

For More Information: 

South Madison Farmer’s Market Madison, WI
The Afri-Can FoodBasket North York, On Canada
Concerned Citizens of Tillery Tillery, NC
Red, Bike and Green Oakland, CA
Growing Power
Outdoor Afro
Life Is Living
Rooted in Community
The Black Farmers and Agriculturalists Association
People of Kolor Everyday Ridin’
Critical Mass

Articles/Videos, etc.:

Pigford v. Glickman
Center for Documentary Studies, Duke University’s exhibit: “Remembering Tillery: Our Community, Our Own Land”

Music:

“Tibetan Serenity” by Travis Bigg
“I Shall Not Be Moved” by Joyful Sound Gospel
“Soul Pride” by James Brown