Face 2 Face Show

On this show, we speak with Kathy Kelly about the situation of young women in Afghanistan. Since 2021, she and an ad hoc circle of internationals have assisted young Afghans to resettle in safer havens. She co-coordinates the BanKillerDrones.org campaign, is board President of World BEYOND War, and is planning the 2023 Merchants of Death War Crimes Tribunal. Kathy Kelly and an Iraq Peace Team lived in Iraq during the Shock and Awe attack and invasion. She had traveled there with 27 previous delegations to defy U.S./UN economic sanctions. With Voices in the Wilderness companions, she helped organize 70 delegations to deliver medical relief supplies from 1996 – 2003. She openly violated the sanctions and steadily developed friendships with families in Baghdad, Basra, and other Iraqi cities.

On this show, we speak with Mark Lesseraux about the process in Ukraine and the US's responsibility for the conflict. Mark is a singer/songwriter/socio-political columnist from Long Island, New York, USA. He is a Humanist, a proponent and practitioner of Active Nonviolence, and a student of Nonduality.

On this show, we speak with Helga Zepp-LaRouche, about her Call for an Emergency International Conference to Reorganize the Bankrupt Financial System after Silicon Valley Bank and other banks collapsed. Helga is a political activist and widow of Lyndon LaRouche, the founder of the LaRouche movement's Schiller Institute.

On this show, we speak with Francesco Da Vinci author of “I Refuse to Kill”, a nonviolent activist, Conscientious Objector, documentary film producer, and for more than 20 years photographer with Getty Images.

On this show, we speak with Tony Robinson about the situation in Europe and his latest article published on Pressenza titled “We must stop the march towards World War III, now!” requesting “The foundations of a new peace movement“. Tony is a Humanist Movement Activist, ex-Director of the Middle East Treaty Organization and coordinating committee member of Abolition 2000 – Global Network to Eliminate Nuclear Weapons, author of the book “Coffee with Silo and the quest for meaning in life” and producer of the film “The Beginning of the End of Nuclear Weapons”.

On this show, we speak with Harley Schlanger about the present situation in Germany and Europe in front of the Ukraine / Russia conflict. We also discussed the enormous, economic, energetic, and military pressure on Europe by the United States and NATO to alienate Russia. Mr. Schlanger is the spokesperson and political analyst for LaRouche International Organization and is currently residing in Germany.

In this show, we speak with Randy Credico, host of Live on the Fly: Assange Countdown to Freedom on WBAI radio in NYC, about Julian Assange's present situation and the future of the campaign for freedom.

On this show, we speak with Eduardo Gonzalez-Cueva, about the current political and social situation in Peru after President, Pedro Castillo, was removed from office on Dec 7, 2022. Mr. Gonzalez-Cueva is a Peruvian sociologist. Human rights consultant and professor specialized in transitional justice.

On this show, we speak with Skip Schiel photographer of the Nakba photographic project. We discussed his experience of meeting the refugees indigenous Palestinians, often living in refugee camps in the Occupied West Bank of Palestine, interviewing and photographing them, and returning to their ancestral homes (now in Israel) to document these places and add archival photos of their regions before the expulsion in 1948 to clear the land for Jewish settlement, leading to the foundation of the state of Israel.

In this show, we speak with John Walsh about the war in Ukraine and the shift in editorial direction by the NY Times, one the main shapers of public opinion for the Elite and so its pronouncements are not to be taken lightly John V. Walsh, until recently a Professor of Physiology and Neuroscience at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, has written on issues of peace and health care for the San Francisco Chronicle, EastBayTimes/San Jose Mercury News, Asia Times, LA Progressive, Antiwar.com, CounterPunch and others.

In this show, we speak with Durga McBroom, singer, songwriter, and actress who has performed backing vocals for Pink Floyd and is a member of the house music band Blue Pearl, best known for their hit single “Naked in the Rain”.

On this show, we speak with Ibrahim Ali about his book The Black Celts - The African Substratum Theory. This book provides a coup de grace or final blow to the fake theory of ‘Celts' inhabiting ancient Britain and Ireland. The inhabitants of these islands were not ‘Celts'.

On this show, we speak with Ron Hantz about Housing and Cooperatives. Mr. Hantz, founder and board president of the Network for Developing Conscious Communities (NDCC), dedicates his life purpose to elevating the Black consciousness in community development.

On this show, we speak with Dr. Ernest Biscardi, about the origins of how and why people get stuck. Why we have fixed ways of responding with no easy access to other more productive behaviors. Mr Biscardi has over 42 years of global experience as a behavioral counselor and healthcare professional working with Individuals (adults and children), couples, (all forms of partnering), families, organizations, and institutions. He has done this work in the areas of relationship, disability, death and dying, conflict management and resolution, heightened or unmanageable stress, depression, racism, prejudice, self-shaming, and re-engaging with life. https://youtu.be/PiGckZjESpc

On this show, we speak with David Andersson, author of The White-West: A Look in the Mirror. A collection of op-eds published on Pressenza. Each article looks at a different aspect of the Western dynamic as played against other cultures and as seen through current events. While the mainstream often views these issues as either political or economic, I argue that these conflicts are deeper and rooted to a cultural historical formative landscape that I call the White-West.

On this show, we speak with Anna and Dennis from the Queens Community House about a just passed legislation in City Council, granting voting rights to noncitizen immigrants in New York City municipal election.

On this show we speak with Seth Shelden, United Nations Liaison with the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN). Seth speaks about New York City just joined the ICAN Cities Appeal and calling on the US to join the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) and includes legal obligations for the city in terms of divestment, education, and policy on nuclear weapons!

On this show, we speak with Tomás Hirsch, Member of Parliament in Chile for Acción Humanista since Nov 2017, who won the just held elections. We discuss beside the campaign, about the presidential run-off election in few weeks and the ongoing constitutional reforms.

On this show, we speak Professor Karl Grossman, author, TV program host and full professor of journalism at the State University of New York/College at Old Westbury. For 30 years, he has hosted the TV interview program Enviro Close-Up. Today we are speaking about climate change, the crises in energy and the environment, as well as his books on the real dangers of nuclear power Investigative Books, Newspaper Articles | Sag Harbor, NY | Books

On this show, we speak with Michael Nagler, founder and president of the Metta Center for Nonviolence in Petaluma, California. We are speaking about the challenges of nonviolence and the understanding of all forms of violence in today's American society and our world.

On this show, we speak with Susan Karbiner, and Janie Lynch, Chair and Co-Chair of the Long Island Poor People's Campaign – A National Call for Moral Revival. Today we are speaking about the origins of the Poor People's Campaign, its important programs and considerations today for civil and human rights in the nonviolent tradition of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

On this show, we speak with Giorgio Cantarini, award-winning actor from Life is Beautiful and Gladiator, who is now involved on new production by Alveare Cinema in Rome, Italy. The film is called On the Fourth String, and focuses on climate crisis after a 2018 hurricane-force windstorm destroyed millions of trees in a few hours in Northeast Italy. Those particular trees were used to make the highest quality of violins in the world. Also joining us, representing Alveare Cinema is Pressenza contributor and teacher of Italian at SUNY, Jacqueline Jill Rito.

On this show we speak with Mel Lehman founded and director of Common Humanity. Common Humanity is a non-profit organization based in New York City which seeks to build understanding, respect and friendship with the Middle East and Muslim world. CH believes that the road to peace in the Middle East lies in recognizing the humanity of people on all sides of the conflict we're in. www.commonhumanity.org Disclaimer: This discussion was done in video format showing many art-pieces that may not be well represented for Podcast format. We recommend to see the video show if you can: Pressenza: https://www.pressenza.com/2021/07/face-2-face-with-mel-lehman/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6I8qWWfMujs Facebook: https://fb.watch/v/4CmcalaS9/

On this show we speak with Thomas F. Lee about his new book "The Warning: A Novel for the Nuclear Age” Telling the story of a monk and two nuns who engage in acts of civil disobedience against the threat of nuclear weapons, and suffer the consequences.

On this show we speak over the phone with Martha Hennessy granddaughter of Dorothy Day and Activist again nuclear weapons. Martha is out of prison on a very restricted confinement in a "halfway house” without internet connect and perhaps for another month or two. She took part of a plowshares action where seven activists entered the Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base in St. Mary's, Georgia. The world's biggest naval submarine base, home to Trident nuclear powered submarines, the Atlantic Fleet's Ballistic and Guided Missile Submarines.

On this show we speak with Payal Mehta, volunteer at Community Solidarity - Food is a right. An all volunteer organization that rescues and distributes food to those marginalized and the many forgotten in overburdened systems that don't always function the way they are designed.

On this show we speak with Cristina Porzio, photographer and art director about two very different projects. The first story called OFLAG 83 about remnants of WWII concentration camp where her grandfather was Lt. Colonel commander of that camp for the Italian troops who declined to continue fighting and the second project called the WO-MEN Project, showing portraits featuring 'ordinary women and men' in their surroundings.

On this show we are speaking with Rosa and Amer from Combatants for Peace, a volunteer organization of ex-combatant Israelis and Palestinians, men and women, who have laid down their weapons and rejected all means of violence. They are working together to end the occupation of Palestine, bring just peace to the land, and demonstrate that Israelis and Palestinians can work and live together. Their mission is to build the social infrastructure necessary for ending the conflict and the occupation: communities of Palestinians and Israelis working together through nonviolent means to promote peace. They believe that such communities can serve as a role model for both people, demonstrating through action that there is a real alternative to the cycle of violence.

On this show we are speaking with David Rojas, Colombian activist living in New York, about the serious situation in Colombia where at least 19 people were killed during protests opposing tax increase and inequality.

On this show we are speaking with Angelo Cardona about the First Youth Summit Against NATO. Angelo is Co-founder & President Ibero-American Alliance for Peace, Council member of the International Peace Bureau,and member of the No to War - no to NATO international network. https://www.pressenza.com/2021/04/youth-summit-against-nato/ Pressenza: https://www.pressenza.com/2021/05/face-2-face-with-angelo-cardona/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFbXG5fiIwk

On this show we are speaking with Michael Beer about his new book Civil Resistance Tactics in the 21st Century, published by the International Center for Nonviolent Conflict. Michael is the director of the organization Nonviolence International, who advocates for active nonviolence and supports creative constructive nonviolent campaigns worldwide.

On this show we are speaking with Bahman Azad, Executive Secretary with the U.S. Peace Council and an NGO representative of the World Peace Council at the United Nations. Where are we standing with the Iran Nuclear Deal and how to understand the removing of U.S. troops from Afghanistan on September 11, promised by President Biden?

On this show we are speaking with Willa France, a transwoman with careers in naval architecture, marine engineering and then law. The discussion will revolve around Scientists engaged to find a biological explanation for the existence of trans, and, more generally, LGBTQ and the Humanist view about human intentionality.

On this show we are speaking with Antonio Carvallo, former General Secretary of the Humanist International, about the 8th Humanist World Centre of Studies (HWCS) International Symposium happening this weekend April 16, 17 and 18 2021. This year, online symposium is titled “Pluralistic exchanges from a world in crisis”.

On this show we are speaking with Camillo Mac Bica, author and professor of philosophy at the School of Visual Arts in New York City, a long-time activist for peace and justice, a member of the Vietnam Veterans Against the War, and the coordinator of the Long Island Chapter of Veterans for Peace. His books include “Beyond PTSD: The Moral Casualties of War,” (Gnosis Press, 2016), and “Worthy of Gratitude: Why Veterans May Not Want to be Thanked for Their “Service” in War” (Gnosis Press, 2015), “There Are No Flowers in a War Zone.”

On this show we are speaking with Brian Ferguson, Professor of Sociology and Anthropology at Rutgers University Newark. Brian Ferguson's research on the origins of war, going back to the beginning of human history and our closest ape relatives, suggests war is not part of our evolution. Ferguson wrote an article in the Scientific American in 2018 titled, “War Is Not Part of Human Nature,” and we publish in Pressenza an article by April M. Short titled “War Is Not Innate to Humanity—A More Peaceful Future Is Possible, Says Historical Anthropologist” based on Mr Ferguson's studies.

On this show we are speaking with Harpreet Toor, Richmond Hill resident in Queens, running for City Council District 23. Mr. Toor offers his 30 years of experience and activism with the Sikh community to a broader political front.

On this show we are speaking with Luca DiMatteo author of Green Haven a mystery novel happening in a nursing home. Mr. DiMatteo was a doctor who suffered an injury and had to retire from practicing a long-term career and dedicate the rest of his life to writing.

On this show we are speaking with Nicolas J S Davies author of "Blood On Our Hands: The American Invasion and Destruction of Iraq”. In his last article published in Pressenza, Mr Davies asked the question "Will Biden End America's Global War on Children?” And the answer is “nothing in Biden long record in public life suggests that he will, unless the American public and the rest of the world act collectively and effectively to insist that America must end its war on children and finally become a responsible, law-abiding member of the human family.

On this show we are speaking with Catalina Cock Duque, Executive Director of Mi Sangre Foundation in Colombia about her works with the foundation providing psychosocial assistance to children and youth affected by landmines, and promotes peace education so they can become active agents of change

On this show we are speaking with Medea Benjamin, co-founder of Code Pink about 2021 and the possibilities with the new Biden administration.