International

The Crisis in Ukraine: Pro-Peace, Anti-War Perspectives from Vermont 03/04/2022

From the participants:

Ashley Smith of the Tempest Collective will talk about why the US and the Western left must oppose and condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and why we must stand in solidarity with the resistance to Putin’s occupation, while at the same time opposing the militarism of the U.S. and NATO.

Charlotte Dennett, representing the Womens International League for Peace and Freedom and the author of the newly released book "Follow the Pipelines: Uncovering the Mystery of a Lost Spy and the Deadly Politics of the Great Game for Oil," will talk about how the Ukraine crisis is an example of the battle between petropowers that benefits the fossil fuel companies but has deadly consequences for average citizens.

Trey Cook, a freshman at the University of Vermont, and organizer for the Young Democratic Socialists of America, will talk about opposing all war but "class war."

John Reuwer, of World BEYOND War and Physicians for Social Responsibility, will share why any solutions to the crisis based on more war would only cause more misery. He will outline a number of nonviolent strategies that have a better chance of mitigating the trauma and delivering a more secure future.

UVM Students Protest War in Ukraine 02/28/2022

Footage from a protest organized by University of Vermont students against Russia's war on Ukraine.

OLLI: Refugees and Immigrants in Vermont - with Pablo Bose 02/02/2022

From OLLI:

"Refugees have been arriving in Vermont for over forty years. They have helped to transform towns like Burlington and Winooski in multiple ways. But the program has been undergoing profound changes over the past five years – first the deep cuts of the Trump years meant that far fewer people have been arriving, and more recently the program has expanded to new locations (like Brattleboro and Rutland) and to include newer populations (including many Afghans who have arrived this year). Pablo Bose, UVM"s Migration and Urban Studies scholar, speaks to some of the opportunities and challenges as we work to rebuild the refugee program in the US and in Vermont."

Interview with Mazin Qumsiyeh, Director of the Palestine Museum of Natural History/Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability 01/13/2022

"Mazin Qumsiyeh is a Palestinian scientist, author, and organizer who followed a career in college teaching and research in the United States-- at Yale and Duke Universities-- with a return to his homeland in 2008 where he teaches at Bethlehem University. In 2014, he and his wife founded an institute which promotes sustainability in human and natural communities in the West Bank. The author of more than 150 scientific papers, he is best known for his books on the Israeli/Palestinian conflict: Sharing the Land of Canaan and Popular Resistance in Palestine. Topics to be covered in the interview include Palestinian life under the Occupation today; the work of the institute; Palestine in US foreign policy; and the future of Palestine."

Interviewer-- Laurie Gagne, Retired Director, Edmundite Center for Peace and Justice, St. Michael's College and Professor of Peace and Justice

Protest Against the Events in Tigray Ethiopia 12/04/2021

A group from Boston march down Church Street to protest the events in Tigray, Ethiopia and raise awareness to the atrocities taking place there.

"The night after the US election, on November 4th 2020, Abiy Ahmed, Nobel prize winner and Prime Minister of Ethiopia, started bombing Mekele, the capital city of Tigray in the North of Ethiopia. There was quickly a shut down of all communications, no internet, no electricity and no media allowed into the region, a region of over 6 million people. This bombing campaign, quickly escalated, with Ethiopian troops taking the city, followed by neighbouring Eritrea invading with reports of razed refugee camps, looting, sexual violence, massacres and extrajudicial killings. Many more have fled to Sudan, in what the United Nations has called the worst exodus of refugees from Ethiopia seen in two decades. They describe a disastrous conflict that's given rise to ethnic violence.

The region of Tigray has been under siege for months now. No humanitarian aid is being allowed in. Hundreds of thousands of people have died and are slowly dying of starvation. 90% of hospitals and clinics have been destroyed. Local people here in Vermont, with ties to Tigray, report family members who have been kidnapped and tortured by Eritrean troops, and others getting messages out of the country saying they have no food and no money to take care of their children. The Tigray Defence Force are now marching on Addis Ababa with the hope of capturing the city and ousting Abiy Ahmed from power."

Abraham Awolich Updating Vermonters on the Situation in South Sudan 11/27/2021

Akol Aguek, Sudanese Vermonter, is joined by Abraham Awolich, Scholar and Managing Director of Administration at the Sudd Institute in South Sudan, to discuss the current situation in South Sudan and why he has co-founded the People's Coalition for Civil Action.

More info: www.suddinstitute.org/who-we-are/about-us

My Brother's Keeper: Studio Interview with Puerto Cabezas Sister City Resident Dixie Lee Smith 11/01/2021

Boniface, Olivier, and Jeremia of the My Brother's Keeper program in Burlington, VT interview Dixie Lee Smith of Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua. Puerto Cabezas was established in the 1980's as one of Burlington's sister cities.

Announcement of New Honorary Consul to France for Vermont 10/04/2021

Lise Veronneau, of Burlington, has been named the new Honorary Consul of France to Vermont. The official conveyance is celebrated in a ceremony at Burlington City Hall, followed by a reception hosted by outgoing Honorary Consul of France to Vermont from 2008-2020, Ernie Pomerleau. Mayor Miro Weinberger along with French dignitaries are in attendance to honor both individuals.

"Vermont has a long history with France and the Quebecois descendants just across our Northern border in Quebec,” says Vermont Secretary of Commerce and Community Development Lindsay Kurrle. “France remains an important partner and investor to Vermont, and we look forward to continuing to grow our partnership, economic ties, and exchange of culture, products and ideas.”

Nominated by Ernie Pomerleau this role is appointed by the Consul General of France in Boston Arnaud Mentré representing the Ministry of France, and endorsed by the U.S. State Department. As Honorary Consul Ms. Veronneau volunteers to act as representative of the Consul General of France in Boston. Honorary Consuls advocate for French interests and French citizens in their state, in close cooperation with the Consulate General.

“Burlington is honored to once again have a community member accept this prestigious role, and I am confident that Lise will further the bonds of friendship between Vermont and France, she has demonstrated a commitment and ability to advance our shared goals of cross-cultural trust and understanding in her leadership of the Burlington-Honfleur sister city initiative.”

Ms. Veronneau has much experience fostering France – Vermont relations. She is an active leader in the Alliance Française of the Lake Champlain Region and in the Burlington-Honfleur Sister City initiative. Her past service to France was recognized in 2019 when she was bestowed the Chevalier in the French Legion of Honor. Ernie Pomerleau was recognized as Chevealier De La Legion D’Honneur in the same ceremony. Over the past 10 years Ms. Veronneau has worked to build international relationships with Honfleur Sister City projects. In addition to the many leaders in Vermont who work to foster connections on a variety of interests shared with France and Quebee.

“This is a wonderful day for Lise and our state,” said Ernie Pomerleau, President / CEO of Pomerleau Real Estate and prior Honorary French Consul for Vermont. “I know Lise will continue to strengthen France – Vermont partnerships that enhances the economy, arts, and international relations.”

“Thank you for the confidence you have shown in me by requesting that I be the next Honorary Consul of France to Vermont. I will be honored to lend my name and continue building relationships and helping promote French initiatives,” says Veronneau.

Vermont has long helped foster a positive French-American friendship. This new appointment is a next step in this long tradition.

Recollections of a Ruthless Rider: Recounting Vietnam : A Fortunate Son 09/17/2021

John W. “Bill” Pospisil, Jr., U.S. Army Captain, recalls his time in Vietnam during the Vietnam War in a series of interviews. He was in Troop A, 7th Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, in Vietnam from October 21, 1968 to October 17, 1969.

What's Going On?: Afghanistan - The Great Game 09/16/2021

In the 19th century the British and Russian Empires fought over Afghanistan. With access to India the Brits sought to fold Afghanistan into their Asian sphere of influence; With borders on Russia the Tsars sought to maintain their control of Asia. In the 20th century the game continued with the United States seeking to use Afghanistan to defeat the Soviet Union and win the Cold War and after 9/11 The War Against Terror. Afghanistan won the Great Game in both centuries and remains independent. What does this new victory mean for Afghanistan? What does the defeat mean for the United States in the Great Game of the 21st century?

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Applications Now Open for the Spring 2025 Cohort of the Neighborhood Community Media Internship Program

Town Meeting TV is excited to announce that applications are now open for the Spring 2025 cohort of the Neighborhood Community Media Internship program. Join up to 8 other youth to engage in interesting media making projects! This paid media internship opportunity is designed for youth aged 16-20 who are eager to gain professional experience in the audio-visual field and develop a deeper understanding of their local community. The group will meet under the leadership of Town Meeting TV's Travis Washington from the end of January 2025 to the beginning of June 2025, on a schedule agreed upon by the whole cohort. Click here to apply!