Israel & Palestine: Family Visits

Ariel Gold of the Committee for Justice in Palestine took her two children to visit a Palestinian family and experience their life under occupation: hospitality but also demonstrations, tear gas, checkpoints. They also visited lsraeli relatives who never cross the apartheid lines and seem unaware of the daily discrimination and violence against Palestinians. Recorded February 1, 2015.

DSA National Convention

Bronwyn Bishop interviewed Theresa Alt after Democratic Socialists of America met in November 2015. For nearly two years they had been discussing their strategy, and when they met they had already come to consensus and unanimously ratified the document. The longterm goal is to put control of the means of production into democratic hands. But they don’t have to wait for state power. They can start to build the alternative now. Not that government is unimportant -- so in the short run they’re working for Bernie Sanders as well as against racism and doing a lot of education about the cooperatives and similar alternatives. Recorded December 15, 2015.

Detroit's Solidarity Economy

The deindustrialization of Detroit has forced people there to seek alternative means of survival. Elan Shapiro tells Deirdre Silverman how they have turned to urban farms, neighborhood organizations and meeting places, neighborhood-based manufacturing. Much of this grassroots enterprise stems from Grace Lee Boggs' philosophy of personal and community revolution based on solidarity. It is a consciously multiracial movement.

Political Theater

Paul Bedard is both a theater director and a socialist activist. He tells Deirdre Silverman how he tries to bring out socialist ideas like class and inclusion in the plays he directs. He loves to introduce theater to activists and activism to theater people. One such play, The Infernal Machine, is about to be presented at the Hangar Theatre. Recorded June 29, 2015

Drop Student Debt

Rich Hilliard quizzes Theresa Alt of DSA's National Political Committee about student debt and what people can do. It is a huge issue, though income-based repayment plans give some very limited relief. DSA has a petition drive to expand these programs to cover all student debt, but also to push for the bigger goal of free higher education. Recorded March 21, 2014.

Palestine: Facts vs. the Media

Jeff Cohen visited the occupied West Bank of Palestine and witnessed how Israeli settlers try use vandalism and violence to intimidate the Palestinian population in an attempt to drive them out. The government of Israel condones the crimes. But Palestinians and some Israelis are working together for human rights. The US media follows the line of the Israeli government, more one-sidedly than even the Israeli media. Recorded October 9, 2013.

Ariel Gold, Local Coordinator of Jewish Voice for Peace, tells Wayles Browne about unjust policies of the Israeli government toward both Israeli citizens of Palestinian nationality and Palestinians living in the occupied territories. Israel uses both arrogance and violence in its attempt to drive Palestinians out of their homes. Americans can help Palestinians by joining the movement to boycott and divest. Recorded December 12, 2013.