Whistleblower Greg Palast to Speak in Bellingham on June 21

If you lived in England, France, Russia or other nations, would the news about U.S. policy and politics be presented differently from what we read and hear in our national media? You betcha’.

Not since the exposure of the Iran-Contra-Watergate affairs have the U.S. media published more than token recognition of many dealings by and between the U.S. government, foreign governments, corporations and wheeler-dealers. Many such stories get a mention, then are quietly relegated to brief pieces on back pages.

But one man, Greg Palast, investigates and writes about these things, and he gets published in London, Paris and on the Internet, even though you have probably not heard much about him.

Now you can hear Greg Palast in person—in Bellingham, and have him autograph your copy of his newest book, “The Best Democracy Money Can Buy” (Pluto Press, London, $25 hardback). Palast tells readers about the disenfranchisement of voters with “scrub-lists” in Florida that he was able to discover, that might have changed the Supreme Court ruling on the Florida presidential votes.

Palast has published documents from insiders around the world showing deals-made that will cast a slant on controversies very different from what you thought happened. Palast discovered much of the reality of the recent off-again-on-again presidency in Venezuela, which “just happens” to be a petroleum-producing place, like Texas and Saudi Arabia.

Who profits while the U.S. public loses? He just returned from another trip to Saudi Arabia, and we might hear the insider story directly from him before his next book is published.

Plan to hear Greg Palast in person in Bellingham on Friday, June 21, 11:30 a.m. –1 p.m., at The Majestic, 1027 N. Forest Street. Join us for the buffet luncheon, which at $14 might be the best value for the money you’ve spent in a long time.

Take the day off if you have to. Seating is limited. Tickets will go on sale soon. Co-sponsors are Friends of Whatcom County, Village Books, Whatcom Watch and others (to be arranged).

From his website: “...With confidential documents from the World Bank, undercover cash-for-access stings and sardonic wit —Palast exposes the costs of globalization. In his new book just out, says the Baltimore Chronicle, ‘No one has exposed more truth about the Bush Cartel and lived to tell the story’....”

And Palast writes on Venezuela: “...Here’s what we read this week [dated April 17, 2002]: On Friday, Hugo Chavez, the unpopular, dictatorial potentate of Venezuela, resigned. When confronted over his ordering the shooting of antigovernment protestors, he turned over the presidency to progressive, democratic forces, namely, the military and the chief of Venezuela’s business council.

Two things about the story caught my eye: First, every one of these factoids is dead wrong. And second, newspapers throughout the ruling hemisphere, from the New York Times to the Independent to (wince) the Guardian, used almost identical words— ‘dictatorial,’ ‘unpopular,’ ‘resignation’ —in their reports....” u

Whatcom arrangements: Marian Beddill (360) 738-3151 or beddill@nas.com.

West Coast Tour Management: Fredda Weinberg, freddaweinberg@GregPalast.com.

Greg Palast information: http://GregPalast.com.

Books in Bellingham: http://VillageBooks.com.

The Venue: http://www.bellinghammajestic.com.