Letter from Peace & Riot

Lately, I have spent considerable time researching Maurice Bishop, the former Prime Minister of Grenada and leader of the People’s Revolutionary Government.

One quote from Maurice Bishop that resonates most with me is, “Backwardness in the field of information is a fundamental reason for the fact that the international exchange of information is only a one-way process. Basically, a veritable flood of information flows from the major imperialist cities to all corners of the globe, whereas there is a mere trickle in the opposite direction.”

Peace & Riot is our way of unapologetically flowing information in the “opposite direction,” ala Counterstream. We understand that the information regarding Environmental Justice from mainstream media does not center on the stories, voices, and solutions of the people most impacted. 

For instance, BlackRock, one of the world’s largest investment firms, has a portfolio that includes real estate, pharmaceuticals, and technology, as well as fossil fuels, petrochemicals, weapons manufacturing, and media. As of January 2024, BlackRock owns about 120.9 million shares of The Walt Disney Company.

This stake gives BlackRock considerable influence over Disney, one of the most powerful media conglomerates globally. The significance of this relationship is underscored by recent protests by environmental justice advocates from the Gulf South, who opposed BlackRock’s investments in petrochemical industries like Exxon, highlighting the broader impact of BlackRock's investment strategies.

If Maurice Bishop were still here, I hope he would relate to the voices, spirit, and solutions in this issue of Peace & Riot. We also hope that this issue resonates with you.

Peace & Riot,
Michael McKenzie
Executive Director, Counterstream