Book Corner
Book Corner
If You Poison Us
by Peter Eichstaedt.
279 pages.
ISBN 1-878610-40-6
Red Crane Books
A story of how America's fanatic entry into the nuclear age injured Native Americans, their environment, lifestyle and communities, If You Poison Us by Peter H. Eichstaedt tells the untold tales of Native Americans and the impact of uranium mining.
"We were exposed to all variations of radiation in the mill. Our fingernails were filled with yellow dust. We were breathing yellow dust. Our clothes were covered with the dust," shared William Lopez, who worked in a uranium ore processing mill. Many Native Americans became sick, and and many got cancer. "They would test our urine, but they never gave us the results... There were fumes in there. It really stunk. There was no ventilation. This was a danger, but no one ever told us at the time... I used to come out with yellow cake all over my clothes and shoes. My kids played with the shoes and shoelaces. My daughter got cancer of the lymph nodes. My sister used to do all the laundry. She came down with cancer and after treatment had a relapse." shared George Brown who worked in a mill.
In the race for nuclear power, people's lives were sacrificed. The exploitation of the land and of the people was nothing for the US Government. If You Poison Us tells the story of the Indigenous people whose lives and health were sacrificed. Read about their experiences and health problems associated with becoming the most powerful nuclear force on Earth.
-RMN
Fantasies of the Master Race
by Ward Churchill.
261 pages.
ISBN 0-87286-348-4
City Lights Books
The media plays an important role in shaping the attitudes and opinions of the public. Isn't it interesting how many people think all Africans are starving or how all Asian women are docile and serving? Or that Native Americans are drunk, lazy and savage?
The media plays an important role in genocide. Without it, governments or groups could never get away with the horrors that they have succeeded in forcing on entire populations.
Ward Churchill's book Fantasies of the Master Race takes a look at literature, cinema and other media In the colonization of American Indians. From the role of detective fiction to looking at stereotypes portrayed in film, Churchill sets out to unravel the codes of oppression and genocide.
Literature, art, film and media that are created by a dominant culture or group becomes a strong political force. The movies we watch, books we read, toys children play with, and songs we listen to shape our view of the world. Hollywood movies continually portray racism, colonialism, and oppression, often using very subtle tactics so that the masses are not aware of the offending remarks, actions or portrayals.
Quite subconsciously, these things shape popular opinion and attitudes about groups, events and things. Fantasies of the Master Race aims to counter the deception of the media, urging people to become more conscious and aware.
-RMN
Killing Hope
by William Blum
457 pages
ISBN 1-56751-052-3
Common Courage Press
"The single most useful summary of CIA history,' praises John Stockwell, former CIA officer and author, of Killing Hope: US Military and CIA Interventions Since World War II by William Blum. Ever wonder about the CIA's involvement in world events? Now you've found your book.
The CIA has been known to create and train guerrilla armies, fund opposition, spread various propaganda, support assassinations... in the 1950's, the CIA instigated military invasions in China. In 1960, CIA planes bombed Guatemala. The list seems endless.
The CIA accomplishes their objectives in many ways. They infiltrate and manipulate groups such as political parties, youth and cultural associations, unions, etc to weaken them or change their agendas. They use news, radio, books and media to spread propaganda, They use bugs, forged documents, blackmail, rumors...
Killing Hope gives us a glimpse into the world of the CIA. Everything presented in the book is noted and documented, so the reader can (and is encouraged to) check its validity. While much of what is presented may seem surprising and unreal, the contents of this book are true!
-RMN