Advocacy & Activism

Populist Dialogues presents video of the recent "Community Forum on the Trans Pacific Partnership" in Portland OR. Speakers include

* David Delk, President of Alliance for Democracy (Portland), speaking on the effects of so-called free trade agreements on democracy as well as how intellectual property rights in the TPP will affect affordable medicines,

Guest David Hill is a volunteer working with Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility on their program to stop the use of nuclear power. He delivers a modified version of his power point presentation: “Why Not Nuclear? The Case Against Nuclear Power.” He provides a broad overview of how nuclear works (fission vs fusion), the environmental and health dangers of nuclear energy, discussion of Fukushima and the Columbia Generating Station at Hanford and why it needs to be closed down.

First broadcast December 29, 2013

Leah Rodgers, Dep Exec Director of Friends of Family Farmers (FofFF) describes how and why the organization formed in order to be a community voice supporting small socially responsible family farmers in opposition to a corporate farm in Oregon. FofFF is a non-corporate alternative for family farmers to the Farm Bureau, which is entrenched in the status quo of big corporate farming. Discussion covers challenges faced by small family farmers including access to capital.

Oregon Common Cause Exec Director Kate Titus joins us to discuss the Supreme Court attack on democracy with the Citizens United decision as well as the upcoming McCutcheon v FEC decision. She states that if McCutcheon strikes down aggregate limits on campaign contributions, it will effectively strike down the individual limits as well.

Populist Dialogues features progressive populist folksinger Tom Neilson for a sampling of his music starting with "Corporations Are Human?" Music selection included "These Colors Don't Run the World" and "Its a Crime."

First broadcast December 8, 2013

"Seeds of Freedom" (28 minutes)

This film, narrated by Jeremy Irons, details how seeds, which have been the heart of traditional farming and natural biodiversity since the beginning of agriculture, are being transformed into an expensive, patented commodity used to monopolize the global food system.

"The 800 Mile Wall" (89 minutes)

"The Fragile Promise of Choice" (57.5 minutes)

Through vignettes from cities and rural areas around the country, this documentary examines how restrictive legislation, in an atmosphere of harassment and violence, affects the lives of abortion providers and the women who seek their services. The film features interviews with community doctors, women seeking services, clinic directors, clergy, and counselors. Their stories illustrate the increasing number of situations in which legal does not necessarily mean accessible.

"The Story of Bottled Water" (8 minutes)

The story of manufactured demand -- how you get Americans to buy more than half a billion bottles of water every week when it already flows from the tap. This film explores the bottled water industry's attacks on tap water and its use of seductive, environmental-themed advertising to cover up the mountains of plastic waste it produces.

"An Evening With Naomi Tutu" (46.5 minutes)

"Peak Moment" (38 minutes)