Latin Waves Media

David E. Kirkland is a trans-disciplinary scholar of English and urban education, who explores the intersections among urban youth culture, language and literacy, urban teacher preparation, and digital media. He analyzes culture, language, and texts, and has expertise in critical literary, ethnographic, and sociolinguistic research methods. He has received many awards for his work, including the 2008 AERA Division G Outstanding Dissertation Award and was a 2009-10 Ford Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow and is a former fellow of NCTE’s Cultivating New Voices. Dr. Kirkland has published widely.(Order Here) His most recent articles include: ” Black Skin, White Masks': Normalizing Whiteness and the Trouble with the Achievement Gap” in urban contexts: Politics, Pluralism, and Possibilities” (English Education), and “We real cool: Examining Black males and literacy” (Reading Research Quarterly). He is currently completing his fourth book, A Search Past Silence, to be published through Teacher College Press s Language and Literacy Series. Dr. Kirkland believes that, in their language and literacies, youth take on new meanings beginning with a voice and verb, where words when spoken or written have the power to transform the world inside-out

Linda gives an thorough interview about her new book The trouble with billionaires She touches on issues off philanthropy and academic freedom around controversial donations from corporations like Gold Corp, she offers alternatives to help us implement a more equitable tax system instead of the discredited neo liberal agenda currently in place

The interview examines how Neo-liberal reforms (in the manner of De-regulation, austerity measures, common sense policies, privatization, etc.) are woven through and shape contemporary racial inequality in Canadian society. Using recent controversies in drinking water contamination and solid waste and sewage pollution, Where the Waters Divide illustrates in concrete ways how cherished notions of liberalism and common sense reform " Neo-liberalism " also constitute a particular form of racial oppression and white privilege. Michael Mascarenhas is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Science and Technology Studies at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and an Andrew Mellon Foundation Fellow. He has published in the following books: Environmental Conflict and Democracy in Canada (2009), Twenty Lessons in Environmental Sociology (2008), and in the Institute of Development Studies Bulletin (2012). His work has been featured in the New York Times, Scientist in the Field column and on Scienceline, a web project of NYUs Science, Health and Environmental Reporting Program.

Robin Eric Hahnel (born March 25, 1946) is Professor of Economics at Portland State University. He was a professor at American University for many years and traveled extensively advising on economic matters all over the world. He is best known for his work on participatory economics with Z Magazine editor Michael Albert. Latin waves host Sylvia Richardson speaks with Robin Hahnel about his book For the people by the people a case for participatory economics as one alternative of cooperation to Global Capitalism.

Dr Michael Parenti , internationally known award-winning author and lecturer and one of the nations leading progressive political analysts speaks about his book "God and His Demons", a critical look at contemporary religion and his current and historic hypocrisies.

Latin Waves host Sylvia Richardson speak with Aymara Elder and Professor of Indigenous Studies Marcelo Saavedra about the human journey of cultivating roots and becoming grounded to the life regeneration cycles of mother earth. In a world mired in ecological, economic, and political crisis finding sustainable paths to coexisting is a call we all must answer.

UBC Professor Dr Sunera Thobani speaks about her book Exalted Subjects, she gives a critical analysis of race and how the Canadian state has been active in nationalizing those “so called” Canadian values and then measuring them against the other in society

Michael Albert is an American activist, speaker, and writer. He is co-editor of ZNet, and co-editor and co-founder of Z Magazine. He also co-founded South End Press and has written numerous books and articles. Micheal speaks about the structures of society that continually enhance the few at the benefits of the many. And what we need to do to make the changes we need.

Now its time for Justin Trudeau to live up to his words about open and transparent government. Will he engage Canadians about the TPP trade agreement or will he simply jam it through parliament with his majority. Is he going to made ad-hoc amendments to bill C51 or is he going to repeal the bill altogether, the Harper government did allot of harm to civil society , limiting our liberties , passing secretive trade deals etc. Are the new Liberals going to be different or are they simply window dressing on the status quo.

Robert Jensen, professor in the School of Journalism at The University of Texas at Austin College of Communication, is the author of “Arguing for Our Lives: A User’s Guide to Constructive Dialog,” (City Lights Publishers, March 2013). The book explores issues with public discourse, trust in the leadership of elected officials and what Jensen calls an “Age of Anxiety.” It also offers strategies for addressing these crises. We live in a time when public discourse is more skewed than ever by the propaganda that big money can buy, with trust in the leadership of elected officials at an all-time low. The “news” has degenerated into sensationalist sound bites, and the idea of debate has become a polarized shouting match that precludes any meaningful discussion. It’s also a time of anxiety, as we’re faced with economic and ecological crises on a global scale, with stakes that seem higher than ever before. In times like these, it’s essential that we be able to think and communicate clearly. Sylvia speaks to Dr Jensen about traditional struggles, internal domination and a way forward. Also Drop of Water by Dana Lyons

UBC Professor Dr Sunera Thobani speaks about her book Exalted Subjects, she gives a critical analysis of race and how the Canadian state has been active in nationalizing those “so called” Canadian values and then measuring them against the other in society.

Stuart Richardson of Latin Waves interviews David Christopher Communications Manager from Open Media, we have a vigorous discussion about our digital rights as Canadians. We touch on how the TPP (Trans Pacific Partnership)  deal may fundamentally change the way the internet operates, how daily activities may become criminalized once the TPP is passed, how this secretive agreement is being negotiated "behind our backs" and how important it is for average Canadians to demand transparency. We speak about how Canada's internet and cell phone services have fallen behind the rest of the world in price and speed of access while we continue to pay the highest global rates. And we wrap up with a discussion about BillC51 and how fundamentally this opposes Canadian values around the charter, how this bill is finding opposition in all political sectors including conservatives, some conservative groups have called it "The Long gun registry on steroids"

Duff Conacher, LL.B., is an internationally recognized leader in the area of democratic reform and government accountability. He is a former Ralph Nader's Raider and he has worked as a researcher, community organizer and educator, legal intern and consultant. A graduate of the University of Toronto Faculty of Law, he has a long-standing interest in democratic process and corporate responsibility issues. He was the main Founder of Democracy Watch, was Coordinator from 1993 to June 2011, and is still a Board member of the organization. As Coordinator of Democracy Watch, he led the organization to win more changes to laws, regulations and government policies than any other citizen advocacy group in Canada (as of June 2011, more than 110 changes strengthening government accountability and corporate responsibility measures in 16 key Canadian federal laws, 6 key federal policies, and 7 provincial laws). He speaks about the current Canadian election, how we need to demand more accountability, ethics and transparency from all political parties, he touches on voting reform and the need to increase voter turnout.

Latin Waves host Sylvia Richardson speak with Aymara Elder and Professor of Indigenous Studies Marcelo Saavedra about the human journey of cultivating roots and becoming grounded to the life regeneration cycles of mother earth. In a world mired in ecological, economic, and political crisis finding sustainable paths to coexisting is a call we all must answer.

With the annual Gay Pride celebrations quickly approaching in many cities across the country we speak to Gary Kinsman, one of Canada's leading academics on lesbian, gay bisexual and transgender issues , He speaks about past victories and struggles that we must keep fighting for in regards to his most newest book, The Canadian War on Queers: National Security as Sexual.