VCU SDS Challenges VCU-Military Drone Partnership

Some people like to argue that drone research at VCU is completely harmless or has nothing to do with the war overseas, but documents obtained via a Freedom of Information Act request by a friend of our organization show otherwise. VCU has been collaborating with the military to perfect these instruments of war as far back as 2008.

DRONE is the buzz-word in WAR TECHNOLOGY these days due to its highly publicized use for information-gathering and missile launching in well known conflict zones in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. More notoriously and horrifically, however, DRONES are being recognized for their use in targeted assassinations of individuals "suspected" of "terrorist" activities, including the 16-year old son of one such assassinated suspect, and the botched attempts that result in the deaths of non-combatants. The justification for the use of DRONES is that it saves lives. In truth the only lives being saved are those of the men and women who pilot these killing machines remotely.

The quote above comes from a petition started by the VCU Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), long known for its anti-war stance. Guests Nicholas DeFillipis and Leigh Williams of the VCU SDS join us to chat about this critical topic.their challenge to VCU's partnership with the US Military in developing drone systems technology, who have posted this effort as a means to train up and coming engineers in this critical technology of the future. But SDS begs the question, aren't there other more positive uses for drones that could provide the same systems education? Join us today at 12 noon to learn more about this student-led campaign and what they feel are the ethics and the priorities at stake.

To learn more about VCU's SDS visit http://vcusds.wordpress.com

There is also an April 11 National Day of Action to Protest War and Occupation on April 11. Visit www.newsds.org to learn more about that.

12 noon online at WRIR.org or 97.3 lp FM radio.

Repeats Tuesdays at 11 am online only.

Gabriel's Rebellion Strikes Again!

Historian, author, director of public events and outreach for the state library Gregg Kimball, joins us on this Pledge Drive Monday to talk about interpreting history. Though really it is an excuse to promote a double header event this coming Wednesday, March 13:

Noon – 1 p.m. - "Pinning Gabriel's Rebellion" - Using the (relatively) new website HistoryPin (www.historypin.com), historians Gregg Kimball, Michael Nicholls, and Phil Schwarz will trace the activities and events leading up to the best-planned slave insurrection in Virginia. The region's geography and the library's documents are merged on the website to graphically depict the actions and aftermath of the Henrico bondsman. Presented in partnership with VCU Libraries. Lecture Hall, Library of Virginia, 800 E. Broad St. Information: Ray Bonis, Archives Coordinator, Special Collections and Archives, James Branch Cabell Library, VCU Libraries; Phone: (804) 828-1108; email: rfbonis@vcu.edu

7 pm - “Gabriel's Conspiracy: Exploring the Richmond Slave Rebellion of 1800.” Presentations by Dr. Michael Nicholls, professor emeritus of history at Utah State University and author of “Whispers of Rebellion: Narrating Gabriel's Conspiracy,” and Dr. Philip J. Schwarz, professor emeritus of history at VCU and author of “Gabriel's Conspiracy: A Document History.” These two books will be on sale at the program. W.E. Singleton Center for the Performing Arts, 922 Park Ave.. Richmond. Presented by VCU Libraries in partnership with the Year of Freedom Committee, the VCU Department of History, the VCU Department of African American Studies and the Library of Virginia. Moderated by Omilade Janine Bell, founder/artistic director of the Elegba Folklore Society and Cultural Center, member of the Richmond Slave Trail Commission. Event registration atwww.library.vcu.edu/events/gabriel

Today: Asbhy Anderson, Muse Creative Workspace

A conversation with one of Richmond's understated powers of creative sonic place-making, Ashby Anderson and the Muse Creative Workspace. In 2006 Anderson published the Historic Richmond Jazz Suite, consisting of tunes that call out and evoke the history of this place with, to sample just a few of the titles, "Devil's Half Acre", "Son of 2nd St." and "Locomotive 231". Anderson is currently working on a new suite with the working title "The Reclamation Project", an extension of the community struggle to reclaim Richmond's African Burial Ground, inspired by the work, but also by the visit he and his wife/business partner Terri paid to the site.

Live @ the Warehouse takes place on 3rd Thursdays. Tickets are $20, wine and cheese included, too.

Tune in tomorrow for the rebroadcast ONLINE only at 11 am: www.WRIR.org.
Archived here under LISTEN in about a week.