KPFK - Ralph Nader Hour (Sunday, November 2, 2025)

Episode Summary

Overview

This episode of the "Ralph Nader Hour" brings together critical voices from the realms of human rights, journalism, and documentary filmmaking. The main focus is twofold:

1. A Blueprint for Peace in Israel/Palestine
   Estee Chandler (host of "Middle East in Focus") interviews Sarah Lee Whitson and Michael Schaefer Omerman, co-authors of From Apartheid to Democracy: A Blueprint for Peace in Israel/Palestine. The conversation zeros in on the aftermath of the October 7th attacks and current genocide allegations, exploring practical pathways to dismantle apartheid and occupation in the region.

2. Ecological and Cultural Loss in Pakistan
   On "Radio Intifada", David Lloyd and Misha Chaudhry interview award-winning Pakistani filmmaker Jawad Sharif about "Moklani", his documentary chronicling the devastation and displacement of the indigenous Mohanas people of Manchar Lake.

Both segments interrogate the costs—human, ethical, cultural—of entrenched injustice, and propose visions for transformation rooted in lived experience and historical context.

Section I: "Middle East in Focus" — From Apartheid to Democracy: A Blueprint for Peace in Israel/Palestine

Host: Estee Chandler
Guests: Sarah Lee Whitson (Executive Director, DAWN) & Michael Schaefer Omerman (Israel/Palestine Director, DAWN)

The Void Addressed by the Book (07:12 – 11:17)

• Problem: Previous literature and policy focus exhaustively on describing Israel/Palestine’s problems or floating idealized, abstract solutions—but rarely articulate practical, transitional steps to end the occupation and apartheid.
  • "There's lots of literature and books and investigative work... describing the problems... But the void is how you get from point A to point B." — Michael Schaefer Omerman [07:12]
• Key Realities Identified:
  1. One State Reality: There is a single Israeli regime exercising ultimate control from the river to the sea, i.e., across all of Israel, the West Bank, Gaza, and Jerusalem.
  2. Apartheid: This regime enforces legal and material inequality (supported by recent International Court of Justice and UN findings).
• Two-State Solution Critique: The Oslo process not only failed but "entrenched the reality of occupation and apartheid" by legitimizing the status quo and deflecting real change.

Notable Quote:

"Millions of Palestinians and Israelis, by the way, [are condemned] to living under an apartheid system, whether as the victims or beneficiaries." — Michael Schaefer Omerman [10:55]

Envisioning the Path Forward (11:17 – 14:56)

• Not Imposed, But by Consent: Whitson emphasizes that change can only come with consent from both populations, emerging from a combination of sustained international and internal (Israeli and Palestinian) pressure.
• Role of a Blueprint: Having a detailed, viable plan enables advocates and policymakers to push harder for sanctions, boycotts, and other nonviolent means, creating pressure for Israel to reconsider its path.
• Practical Focus: The blueprint isn’t about dictating how to create pressure, but offers a transition plan for ending occupation and apartheid, and launching democratic institutions to determine future governance.

Notable Quote:

"This is a plan that actually does depend on consent. It is not something that's gonna be imposed on people against their will." — Sarah Lee Whitson [12:25]

International Law and Regional Dynamics (16:20 – 19:10)

• Impact of Recent Events: Genocide in Gaza and attacks since October 7th have made change seem simultaneously more urgent and more daunting.
• Limits of Institutions: International law is foundational to the blueprint, but "the international institutions on their own cannot deliver justice... [They] are made up of countries, and those people can change their minds." — Michael Schaefer Omerman [18:12]
• Call to Action: Presenting practical ideas increases the likelihood that policymakers will shift, since without viable alternatives they remain stuck supporting a failed two-state process.

Addressing Risk and Security (19:33 – 22:35)

• Inherent Risks: Both Israelis and Palestinians face emotional, psychological, and physical risks. Israelis risk "losing privileges... giving up security... for something unknown" while Palestinians risk further disappointment or betrayal.
• Security Framework:
  • Merged security forces under unified command, but disarmament of irregular armed groups.
  • Checkpoints are retained to prevent spoilers during transition, balancing freedom of movement with security needs.
• Long-Term Vision: Drawing on global models, they argue for "longer-lasting security" grounded in human rights and democratic principles.

Notable Quote:

"What we are proposing does entail taking risk about the unknown. But what we think it can offer... is a longer lasting security, longer lasting peace." — Sarah Lee Whitson [21:18]

Core Goals and Principles (22:56 – 23:59)

• End Crimes First: The blueprint radically reorders priorities—ending apartheid and occupation must precede decisions about statehood or governance structures.
• Outcome: By leveling the political and civil playing field, a fair referendum on governance becomes possible.
• Empowerment: Palestinians and Israelis must be the decision-makers on their shared future.

Section II: "Radio Intifada" — Moklani: Documenting the Last Mohanas of Manchar Lake

Hosts: David Lloyd & Misha Chaudhry
Guest: Jawad Sharif (filmmaker)

The Mohanas and Manchar Lake: Context and Crisis (33:39 – 38:36)

• Manchar Lake: Once Asia’s second-largest freshwater lake; home to Mohanas, a fisherfolk community living in boathouses for centuries.
• Catastrophic Change: In the 1980s-90s, government drainage canals dumped polluted runoff into the lake, devastating its ecosystem and culture.
  • "There used to be 114 underwater species... now just a few species left." — Jawad Sharif [34:25]
• Mohanas’ Relationship with Nature: Deep spiritual and practical connection to water, birds (e.g., each boathouse keeps pelicans), and migratory cycles.

Memorable Moment:

"Children are playing with the balls... throwing ball towards pelican and [the pelican] is trying to catch the ball, throwing it back. Such a divine moment to witness." — Jawad Sharif [37:03]

Filmmaking Process: Immersion and Preservation (39:01 – 43:39)

• Observational Approach: Sharif spent over a year with the community, without a camera, to build trust and understand daily life.
• “Cinema Verité”: Films events as they naturally unfold, making the crew as invisible as possible.
• Selection of Protagonists: Focuses on Akbar (a traditionalist, adept at bird-calls) and Hakim Zadi (his sister, forced onto land by pollution).

Notable Quote:

"We try to be as invisible, as low key as possible and... just film the moments. Filming was about... more than three years." — Jawad Sharif [42:09]

Cultural and Spiritual Loss (47:45 – 52:51)

• Loss of Livelihood: Collapse of fish stocks; community members forced into menial work or forced migration.
• Spiritual Dislocation: The community’s removal from water is more than economic—it erases identity, traditions, stories, and spiritual connection to landscape.
• Wider Resonance: The Mohanas' situation echoes indigenous struggles worldwide, displaced by ecological violence and “development”.

Notable Quote:

"It's not about ecological loss. It's... an identity loss, a cultural loss. It's more like you are losing yourself and you cannot stop this." — Jawad Sharif [51:47]

Indigeneity in Pakistan (53:26 – 54:47)

• Historical Depth: Mohanas trace lineage to the 5,000-year-old Indus Valley civilization.
• Current Crisis: Similar stories of forced displacement now echo across South Asia and the world, driven by “man-made disasters [and] climate disasters.”

Support and Screening (55:52 – 56:48)

• How to Support: Follow on social media ('Jawad Sharif Films'), write for partnership, moral or material support for indigenous and climate-affected communities.
• Film Release: Updates will be posted on official channels, including news about US screenings.

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Time | |---------------------------------------------------|--------------| | What void does "From Apartheid to Democracy" fill?| 07:12–11:17 | | Pathways to political will and consent | 11:17–14:56 | | International law, current genocide, US policies | 16:20–19:10 | | Addressing risk and security | 19:33–22:35 | | Blueprint’s core objectives | 22:56–23:59 | | Mohanas: Manchar Lake, loss, and filmmaking | 33:39–38:36 | | Cinema verité process, selection of subjects | 39:01–43:39 | | Cultural loss and spiritual dislocation | 47:45–52:51 | | Indigeneity in Pakistan | 53:26–54:47 |

Memorable Quotes

• “What we are proposing does entail taking risk about the unknown. But what we think it can offer... is a longer lasting security, longer lasting peace.” — Sarah Lee Whitson [21:18]
• “Millions of Palestinians and Israelis... [are condemned] to living under an apartheid system, whether as the victims or beneficiaries.” — Michael Schaefer Omerman [10:55]
• "It's not about ecological loss. It's... an identity loss, a cultural loss. It's more like you are losing yourself and you cannot stop this." — Jawad Sharif [51:47]
• "Children are playing with the balls...throwing ball towards pelican and [the pelican] is trying to catch the ball...Such a divine moment to witness." — Jawad Sharif [37:03]

Conclusion

This episode presents compelling arguments and lived experiences from activists, researchers, and artists, each confronting urgent questions of justice—from the architecture of peace in Israel/Palestine to the preservation of threatened indigenous cultures. The underlying message: No matter how intractable the problems may seem—whether political or ecological—change is only possible with a bold imagination, shared consent, and detailed, practical blueprints for action.