Activism
No to War Against Humanity
| Sara Flounders, Tom Burke, Dozthor Zurlent, David Paul, Larry Holmes, Roger Wareham, Manolo De Los Santos, Husam Marajda, Yvan Gil | |
| Essential Dissent Contact Contributor | |
| Oct. 2, 2025, midnight | |
| This episode is NO TO WAR AGAINST HUMANITY! – From Venezuela to Nicaragua to Cuba to Palestine!, a meeting held at the historic Riverside Church in New York City on September 25, 2025.
Sponsored by the United National AntiWar Coalition in association with the Simon Bolivar Institute, the participants sought to build a solidarity movement between the US and Venezuela, and to fight for oppressed people everywhere. |
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| Audio both recorded on-site and edited by Wilton Vought (last name rhymes with thought) of Essential Dissent.
If you broadcast this audio, please: 1. Credit Essential Dissent, UNAC, and the Simon Bolivar Institute. Thanks! |
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| There are TWO versions of this audio on the Radio4All server: Both are -24 LUFS 192kbps Mp3.
Version 1: All the audio that was suitable for English language radio, (01:41:06) optimized for RADIO PLAY. I did not add an intro/mid/outro. Yvan Gil speaks in Spanish, followed by an English translation. Version 2: A 59 minute RADIO READY edit. Includes my intro/mid/outro. Yvan Gil speaks in Spanish, followed by an English translation. To access my audio optimized for listening on a smartphone, follow the Essential Dissent podcast on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/essential-dissent/id1464439315 |
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Just listen….
Danny Schechter adapted the name “News Dissector” when he worked on air at WBCN in Boston.
He was one of the most respected documentarian and someone who couldn’t be bought. He was one of the first people in America to bring the name Nelson Mandela into the public consciousness.
Schechter produced and directed many television specials and documentary films, including:
- Beyond A Long Walk To Freedom (2014)
- America’s Surveillance State (2014)
- DeWitt Clinton HS: The School That Can Teach Them All, on the fight for Public Education (2013)
- Who Rules America? (2012)
- Plunder: The Crime Of Our Time (2010)
- Barack Obama: The People’s President (2009)
- Boob Tube: Sex, TV and Ugly George (2008)
- Viva Madiba (2008)
- A Work in Progress: Danny Schechter and the Journalism of Change (2007)
- In Debt We Trust: America Before The Bubble Burst (2006)
- WMD: Weapons of Mass Deception (2004)
- Counting on Democracy (2004), about the 2000 Florida election recount, narrated by Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee
- We Are Family (2002), about a benefit recording of the Sister Sledge song following the September 11, 2001 attacks; shown at the Sundance Film Festival
- Nkosi: A Voice of Africa’s AIDS Orphans (2001), narrated by Danny Glover
- Falun Gong’s Challenge to China (2001)
- A Hero for All: Nelson Mandela’s Farewell (1999)
- Globalization & Human Rights (1998)
- Beyond Life: Timothy Leary Lives (1997)
- The World of Elie Wiesel (1997)
- Sowing Seeds/Reaping Peace: The World of Seeds of Peace (1996)
- Prisoners of Hope: Reunion on Robben Island (1995), co-directed by Barbara Kopple
- Countdown to Freedom: Ten Days that Changed South Africa (1994), narrated by James Earl Jones and Alfre Woodard
- Sarajevo Ground Zero (1993)
- The Living Canvas (1992), narrated by Billy Dee Williams
- Beyond JFK: The Question of Conspiracy (1992), co-directed by Marc Levin and Barbara Kopple
- Give Peace a Chance (1991)
- Nelson Mandela: Free at Last (1991), PBS national broadcast
- Mandela in America (1990)
- The Making of Sun City (1987)
- Student Power (1968)
Books
- Surveillance A to Z (Seven Stories Press, 2015, forthcoming). ISBN 978-1609806439
- When South Africa Called, We Answered: How the Media and International Solidarity Helped Topple Apartheid (Cosimo Books, 2015). ISBN 978-1616409418
- Madiba A to Z: The Many Faces of Nelson Mandela (Seven Stories Press, 2013). ISBN 978-1609805593
- Occupy: Dissecting Occupy Wall Street (Cosimo Books, 2012). ISBN 978-1616407162
- Blogothon: Reflections and Revelations from the News Dissector (Cosimo Books, 2012) ISBN 978-1616406691
- The Crime Of Our Time: Why Wall Street is Not Too Big To Jail (Disinformation Books, 2010) ISBN 978-1934708552
- Plunder: Investigating Our Economic Calamity and the Subprime Scandal (Cosimo Books, 2008) ISBN 978-1-60520-351-5
- When News Lies (Select Books, 2006) ISBN 978-1590790731
- The Death of Media (and the Fight to Save Democracy) (Melville House Publishing, 2005). ISBN 978-0-9766583-6-8
- Media Wars: News At A Time of Terror (Rowman & Littlefield, 2003) ISBN 978-0742531093
- Embedded: Weapons of Mass Deception: How the Media Failed to Cover the Iraq War (Prometheus Books, 2003) ISBN 978-1591021735
- News Dissector: Passions, Pieces and Polemics (Akashic Books, 2001) ISBN 978-1888451207
- Falun Gong’s Challenge to China: Spiritual Practice or ‘Evil Cult’? (Akashic Books, 2000) ISBN 978-1888451139
- The More You Watch, The Less You Know (Seven Stories Press, 1997) ISBN 978-1888363807
Arts + Solidarity
The Arts as Connector
February 14th is the day the world celebrates Valentines Day. A day of celebrating the love we have for one another–no matter where in the world we are. Now, something special to celebrate the love for others kicks off in Southen California on February 15th.
For as long as we know, the Arts has been a catalyst for awareness and change. From the “Sun City” Rockers Against Apartheid movement produced by Steve Van Zandt, Arthur Baker and Danny Schechter to convey opposition to the South African apartheid to, to Woodstock, the No Nukes Concerts Live Aid, No Nukes and many others creators worldwide have found ways of utilizing human creativity to create awareness about human suffering, or the need to create change.”
“In the alternative art world, performance artists have championed the issues of social justice, freedom of expression and human rights. Artists such as the NEA Four, Suzanne Lacey, Barbara T. Smith and so many others have paved a way for today’s current generation of humanitarian arts-based practices.”
While the struggles and oppression continue in Ukraine and Belarus, we’ve seen little reporting on their struggles.
One group of humanitarian artists have come together to shine the light on helping those who have nflicted from harms way.
Pavuk (Ukrainian for “Spider”) is a collective installation and day-long performance centered on a traditional suspended straw structure symbolizing cosmic balance, protection, and interconnected life.
What’s happening
- Fifteen artists from around the globe will each create one geometric element of the Pavuk and send it to Los Angeles, where the pieces will be assembled into a single monumental installation. This multinational and multigenerational group of artists, curators and organizations, are volunteering their efforts in support of a critically important cause: the survival of the Ukrainian people.
- Additionally, performance artists, including the legendary LA MUDPEOPLE, will activate the installation while accompanied by a durational piece by project creator, Alina Kalinouskaya, who is immobilized, bound by rope in symbolism of the struggles in Ukraine. Singer/songwriter Lali Bell performs throughout the 3-hour durational experience.
- The 3-hour experience will be live-streamed via the Pavuk website.
- The event takes place and is hosted by 18th Street Arts Center, in Santa Monica, California. Long a home for progressive social change, The 18th Street Arts Center has, since its founding in 1988 been champion and home to the intersection between art and social activism.
Why diversity is essential.
Alina Kalinouskaya, Performance Artist
“I believe this diversity, and the project’s multidisciplinary nature, creates a sense of unity among us as humans. In addition, Olena shared information about trusted and widely recognized charitable organizations, and I selected the Prytula Foundation because I deeply respect and value the work they do.
Why it matters
Pavuk is presented in solidarity with the people of Ukraine — and as an urgent reminder to U.S. audiences that the humanitarian and political crisis remains ongoing.
- In support of victims of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
- In support of individuals facing political repression for protesting the war and invasion.
The big picture
Olena Yara, Yara Studio
The structure at the center — a traditional Pavuk — represents a worldview where balance and protection emerge through relationship.
This project mirrors that principle: distributed creation → shared assembly → collective witnessing → direct support.
What to anticipate.
- Durational performance: Alina Kalinouskaya will remain suspended in ropes for the entire day — acting as a living axis within the installation.
- Live music: Lali Bell will perform live on guitar throughout the day, including a song composed in dedication to the people of Ukraine.
Where donations go
Visitors will be encouraged to donate directly to the Prytula Foundation, supporting its Emergency Response Program, “Light of Ukrainian Hope” — providing generators to communities where electricity has become a matter of survival.
- Direct donations during the performance support the same emergency program.
- Proceeds from project-related NFTs will also be donated to the program.
Credits
- Curated by: Michael J. Masucci
- Supported by: Yara Agency
- Vision
- Circularity (Materials/Resources)
- Connected Health
- Energy and Transportation
- Food
- Info-Comm
- Personal Democracy
- Smarter Cities
Flip the Script
- Activism
- Circularity
- Connected Health
- Economics
- Energy and Transportation
- Food
- InfoComm
- Justice
- Leadership
- Personal Democracy
- Smarter Cities
- See it/Say it
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