Hyperactivist & radio rouser at communitycurrency.org: Interview with Progressive Radio Network Host Carol Brouillet by PlanetShifter.com Magazine

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Hyperactivist & radio rouser at communitycurrency.org: Interview with Progressive Radio Network Host Carol Brouillet by PlanetShifter.com Magazine

How effective is your radio show in addressing your issues and solutions?

My one hour radio show, Community Currency on Progressive Radio Network, began airing in February 2010, before then I hosted a show called Questioning War- Organizing Resistance on We the People Radio Network from April 2007 through September 2008 which, in addition to being available via the internet, was also broadcasted in Texas and Oklahoma, and was a call-in radio show which lasted two hours. Sometimes I didn't allow call-ins, if I had a complex line-up of guests. I received more feedback from listeners on my call-in show and it is harder for me to gauge the current size of my audience and its impact. Besides the technical side of the show, which is handled in New York City, I'm basically the main producer, organizer, and the show's content, issues, guests are entirely up to me, so I can choose the issues/solutions/guests that I think people should know about.

My major restraining factor is time. I'm an organizer, a mom, happily married; it's a challenge to find the time required to do all the legwork required for a great show. It is my good fortune to have been an activist and organizer for 18 years and to know so many activists working on a huge range of issues; I'm drowning in books, dvds, information, analysis, issues, problems, solutions that need a wider audience and often feel like the bottleneck of an hourglass, unable to digest and disseminate all that comes my way. I know how hard it is to try to break issues in the mainstream media; I am happier to be the media, and I do my best to get out the most critical, censored info, that I can process, and get out to a larger audience.

Tell us how you use social media channels in support of communitycurrency.org?

Sadly, I am a bit of a Luddite. I can do html and keep up my websites, moderate an events list, and I have moderated discussion lists, too, but I haven't mastered all the computer languages and tools, even video and sound editing, which would be such useful skills. My husband has a Masters in Artificial Intelligence and can rebuild my computer when it dies and help me with technological problems I encounter. Strangers have created websites for me, because they have appreciated my work and want to help me amplify my voice online.

I can write articles, organize conferences, events, utilize telephone conference services and battle the folks at Wikipedia who would like to define history and reality in ways that strongly disagree with my perception of reality and the events that I have witnessed and participated in. I have a page at Facebook and MySpace, but I rarely visit them. I'm sure much of the email sent my way never actually reaches me. I can't spend 24 hours a day online, so I try to do what strikes me as the most critically important things.

What are the top three environmental justice issues right now?

[ 1. ] The Economic System - Debt Based Money Controlled by Private Banks

I believe that empires topple when they destroy their ecological base, due to corporate globalization the entire planet is in jeopardy. The extremely wealthy are out of touch with the destruction that they are causing and the human and environmental cost of their empires. I'm sure that you are aware of that Cree saying "Only When The Last Tree Has Died & The Last River Has Been Poisoned & The Last Fish Has Been Caught Will We Realize That We Cannot Eat Money." War is the most lucrative business on the planet and converting life and precious human and natural resources into money is the most threatening issue we are faced with now.

Monetary reform, economic reform, moving from a war economy towards a peace economy has been my major issue for over a decade. I see it as an umbrella issue, so many problems stem from it and could be solved, if we retooled our economic system away from a debt based monetary system which concentrates wealth and power destroying the Earth in the process. Money next to brutal military force is the most powerful tool of empire, but many people have no understanding of how it is created, how it flows, how we can change it.

[ 2. ] Militarism - The Expanding Police State

The second issue is militarism, itself, which consumes an enormous amount of human and environmental resources, creates toxic, lethal waste, and causes such tremendous human suffering. We have the poverty draft and poor men killing one another for the rich man's profits.

[ 3. ] Illegal Supranational Organizations such as the World Trade Organizations Overriding Local, Regional and National Sovereignty

In September 2001, I was part of an affinity group planning on protesting the IMF, the World Bank in Washington, DC, and we wanted to draw attention to the high cost of the cheap goods consumed by Americans, who had no idea of the human and environmental cost of the foods and goods that they purchased because of our economic system with the artificial rates of exchange, which allows powerful forces to oppress and rob countries and continents for profit. There is a huge battle going on now between the world's people trying to defend their lives, their lands, their environment, and the corporations and governments colluding to control and rob them through illegal supranational entities such as the World Trade Organization which trumps local, regional and national sovereignty, in favor of corporations.

How are you supporting solutions?

The real challenge is raising consciousness on the personal, community, national and international levels, facing our own ignorance, fear, greed, seeking truth, understanding, wisdom, being the change we wish to see in the world. I must admit that I had no idea of the depth and magnitude of the world's problems until 1992 when a film that I saw disturbed me and radicalized me and transformed my life. Since then I have consciously sought to understand the nature of the problems we face and nurture the solutions. Before I992, I was very successful in public relations, so I naturally became a media activist, as well a philanthropist, eventually an organizer.

I inherited some money at the same time that I became a mother and an activist, and I have tried to balance motherhood with my activism. When the kids were little, I gave more money than time to the work, and as the kids have grown older, I have put more time into my work. I've attended and organized rallies, actions, events, conferences, film festivals, written articles, made a film/DVD entitled Behind Every Terrorist- There is a Bush, given talks, done workshops, ran for Congress twice, printed and distributed over 7,000,000 Deception, Conception, Perception Dollars, prepared and distributed an enormous amount of food, given away my inheritance, tried to set a positive example for my children and others. I still am trying to learn more and to share what wisdom that I've gleaned with others.

How is the Progressive Radio Network operated?

It was started by Gary Null, a very courageous health advocate who has strongly criticized the pharmaceutical and medical industry, particularly over the concerted effort to immunize people with the H1N1 influenza vaccine. He has had a long career in radio and I really don't know how the station is run and operated, since it is relatively new and seems to be a labor of love, depending on donations, and the volunteer efforts of people who share "progressive values."

Who can get a show?

Anyone can make proposal to them; they are open to ideas, issues that they haven't covered.

And what are some of the common values throughout the programs at PRN?

They have a lot of hosts, and I haven't listened to all of them, but I do know a lot of them or I am familiar with their work; they are basically working for peace, social justice, raising consciousness, shattering the prevalent myths which perpetuate injustice. They write:

Progressive Radio Network is the thinking person’s network. We are a non-commercial and listener supported station, focused on creating premium content that is distributed for free. Our knowledgeable hosts speak passionately about important topics such as health, news, politics, art, culture and issues that directly impact our everyday lives. Our voices and ideas are not always welcome by corporate media so Progressive Radio Network is an important outlet for these great minds.

Progressive Radio Network is an internet radio station driven by passion. We value and appreciate all the feedback we receive from our listeners.

Progressive:

1. Moving forward.
2. Advocating or working for political or social reform
3. A proponent of reform as in health care, finance, politics, environment and quality of life.

In your email, you referenced the recent Understanding Deep Politics Conference which is crafting a statement very similar to the gist of my website. Please explain.

Actually, I visited your website because someone posted a link to an article on your website - A Call for the Coalition of the Just and a Call to Action, by Rohaan Solare, emergent-culture.com - on Planetshifter.com Magazine which I thought was yours because at the end of the article it said – “Please join us at the PlanetShifter.com Linked Group for discussion,” which is when I contacted you. Coming out of the Understanding Deep Politics Conference, at a follow-up retreat, a group of us began work on a similar Declaration and Call to Action which we are trying to finalize now.

What do you believe happened on 9/11?

I know that the official story is not true and that the government has lied, destroyed evidence, and used the events to launch illegal, immoral wars abroad, as well as expand the National Security State into a Global Police State. I believe 9/11 has all the fingerprints of a botched special operation, a false flag event, and that there had to have been complicity within the White House, the Department of Defense, the CIA and other alphabetical soup agencies, as well as cooperation between various intelligence agencies including those of Pakistan, the UK and Israel. Certainly, the omission of the controlled demolition of WTC 7 from the official 9/11 Report is a smoking gun indicating official participation in the events.

Is the 9-11 Truth Alliance still collaborating?

Yes, it is part of the international movement for truth, peace, justice.

How is the monthly Listening Project doing in downtown Palo Alto?

I actually did it on a weekly basis for six years, before the weekly radio show started, and I decided to just do it on the 11th of each month, in solidarity with other activists. I still think it is a great project and I am glad to do it each month. Downtown Palo Alto is a bit like Piccadilly Circus, almost everyone in the world walks by it sometime. You never know who will stop and talk. We have met some great people and had some powerful conversations. It began with just one person, me, and I have met an enormous number of activists on the street, tabling, marching, rallying who have joined the Northern California 9/11 Truth Alliance, or volunteered to help at our major events, as a result of those conversations. It was the most non-violent thing that I could think of doing in the wake of 9/11, and I'm still very glad that I did it, and that it has inspired so many others to do similar small, regular, local actions, which have had very powerful ripple effects.

Who attends?

Generally local activists, sometimes activists who are in Palo Alto that day; there are a handful of regulars who have varied over the years (It began in October 2001.) Some people make the effort to come and speak with me, but generally the people who stop and talk, just happen to be in Palo Alto that day and are walking by or see our banner and stop to see what we are doing.

Who isn’t?

There are some people who are very fearful or in denial about 9/11 or the state of our government, in general, who try to ignore us or will attack us verbally.

What alternative economic practices do you maintain?

I do believe in the "gift economy." I support the local Community Supported Agriculture farmer. I have a natural aversion to shopping. I have tried to start a local currency 3 times, but it is an uphill battle in Palo Alto where people have way too much money and not enough time. I try to buy local, organic, non-processed foods and do not buy fast food. I almost always bake and give away food at my rallies, events, conferences, meetings, regularly. One friend noticed that my table was so popular because of my cookies and suggested that I get a new banner made saying "9/11 Truth and Cookies" which I did. (See 911truthandcookies.org).

I try to "walk my talk." It is a challenge when almost all the systems including food, transportation, shelter, clothes are part of a larger system which clashes with our deepest values, and we are confronted with choices at almost every moment which require us to weigh the pros and cons of whether to "bicycle or drive, stay at home or participate, determine which choice is better for us or the planet or the relationships we have with other people.

Is sustainability like a new religion?

I believe Daniel Quinn's book, Ishmael, articulated the idea that there are two kinds of beings - the givers and the takers. The givers think long term, have a profound love for life, future generations, and a deep sense of responsibility. They want to contribute to their families, the environment, the world that they live in. The takers, by contrast, feel entitled to do what they please, consider themselves superior to others and the natural world, and mindlessly use or destroy the world for their personal benefit. Religions have powerfully influenced people for millennia, but the realization that humanity has finally grown so large and destructive that we are causing mass extinctions and threatening the survival of not only our species, but countless others, is relatively new.

Environmentalism, sustainability, awareness about human responsibility to steward, safeguard, protect the biosphere is penetrating the modern religions, at the same time that those who have innately lived sustainably, indigenous cultures, are being wiped out. There's a hunger to tap into the indigenous wisdom that might help us navigate through the turmoil of an impending imperial collapse and help survivors live cooperatively with nature. At the same time, there is a concerted effort to technologically control all aspects of life, regardless of human and environmental toll, financed by the military/corporate/intelligence complex. I believe those on the "sustainability" track, in general, view life as sacred whereas those on the control track, the necrophiliacs, don't.

What are a few of your favorite Nature-based stories and myths?

I have always loved stories and myths. My mom read to us and told us stories ever since I can remember, often tales about "Coyote." I have also read stories to my kids, new ones, but the same themes seem to run through all the stories. One of my favorites is from the "Enchanted Forest Chronicles" which first shreds all the classic stereotypes of how dragons, wizards, princesses, kings, animals behave. The stories' heroine becomes a single mom when her spouse is trapped by a powerful spell and she has to raise her child on her own.

One thing she teaches her child is to treat every living creature with respect and to never judge a being on the basis of size or appearance, because those can be deceptive. I think it is a very important lesson and wish more people would treat all people with respect and not be so quick to condemn others on the basis of superficial appearances. This also applies to other species. Humanity's assault upon the insect world and various species harm humanity and show the blindness of our culture which doesn't recognize the deeper connections that we have with other life forms.

Do you advocate war tax resistance?

I think it is a good idea, but I don't actively advocate it. I do pay sales taxes, but I have deliberately avoided earning an income to avoid paying taxes which do support the military.

How are you sacrificing for the planet?

I love life. I love my family, my friends, nature. I have been blessed with a great life and have been able to educate myself, travel, live in some of the most beautiful places imaginable, marry a wonderful guy whom I love more and more each day, give birth to three, intelligent, healthy children. Since 1992, I have tried to balance my very happy home life with my passionate concern about the world and the future. I could work 24 hours a day at the computer, but I don't for the sake of my health and my family.

I do, however, devote a huge amount of time, resources, energy to the work for truth, peace, justice, raising consciousness, systemic change. You could call that a sacrifice, but I have met some great people on this path, and so it hasn't been at "tremendous cost"... I get tired, a sore back. It can be very stressful and demanding. I have missed meals, gone thirsty, suffered from kidney stones, gotten sick, but I have also felt deep joy and satisfaction. Since I can only do about 4% of what I would really like to do on any day; I usually do what I can't resist doing and let go of my inability to do everything. I also believe that if we can have more fun working for peace, justice, social change, we can build an irresistible movement; those who commit suicide and commit murder on a mass scale are very unhappy people.

Who are we fighting in Afghanistan?

I did a radio show last April entitled "Myths of Our Times" with Elizabeth Gould, co-author, with her husband Paul Fitzgerald of Invisible History: Afghanistan's Untold Story. Liz and Paul have been trying to get out the story of Afghanistan for decades. Paul tells a story about his own family, the Fitzgeralds, and their lineage which he ties in with the failed imperial forays into Afghanistan.

There actually is a Black Knight in the Fitzgerald clan, whom Paul has met and there are some stories, dreams he has shared with me about the Black Knight who in his final climactic struggle realizes that his enemy is the mirror image of himself. The US funded and created Al Qaeda, the terrorist threat, the Taliban, the warlords in Afghanistan, the enemies needed to justify, perpetuate a war economy, war profits, the expansion of corporate globalization. Project Censored sent me an email today with an article stating "The London Times reported on June 5, 2010, that American troops are now operating in 75 countries...The US, in cooperation with NATO, is building global occupation forces for the control of international resources in support of Trilaterialist¬US, Europe, Japan¬ corporate profits...

We face what appears to be a military industrial media empire so powerful and complex that truth is mostly absent or reported in disconnected segments with little historical context." Sadly, in answer to your question, I would say that Americans are occupying Afghanistan and killing people who are defending their homes, lives and country against invaders. The most brutal warlords in Afghanistan who are deeply involved with drug trafficking have been supported and funded by the US. The US has created and is the enemy in Afghanistan, and not just Afghanistan.