“Nothing is More Precious Than…” a news magazine including music and poetry
Nothing Is More Precious Than…derives from a quotation of Ho
Chi Minh—“Nothing is more precious than independence and freedom,” and reflects
one of the main anti-imperialist messages of this news program. The program was
produced, from 1973–1976, by Claude Marks and Nancy Barrett, was
one-hour-long, and ran weekly on Saturday evenings on
KPFA-FM. A number of other producers contributed to the program, notably Mark
Schwartz, who did consistent and excellent reportage on the
rising prison movement. The content includes extensive coverage of Indochina,
reports from Havana by Lincoln Bergman from 1973-4, in-depth coverage of the fascist
coup in Chile, of the American Indian and Black liberation movements, defense
of political prisoners, women’s and gay/lesbian liberation, Puerto Rico,
Southern Africa, and a wide diversity of struggles and events in the Bay Area
and nationwide, along with music and poetry reflective of the times.
Documents
Nothing Is More Precious Than
Union of Vietnamese Report: focus on political prisoners and failures of the Saigon government. Lolita Lebron song and report on Puerto Rican independence, message from Lolita Lebron read by Nina Serrano. Puerto Rican nationalist Carlos Feliciano sentenced. Mark Schwartz report on prisoner strike at Folsom and trial of San Quentin 6, Hugo Pinell motion for dismissal of charges, Schwartz is refused permission to interview them, as he is a “freelancer.” Karl Armstrong case, pled guilty to reduced charges of second degree murder for 23 years—actuality of William Kunstler. Chicago contempt retrial. Popeye Jackson of United Prisoners Union to go to trial, report by Frances Emley. Rosemary McFadden sentenced.
Nothing is More Precious Than
Honors Martin Luther King and Amilcar Cabral (with Cabral speaking), and includes reports on the SLA (tape from Nancy Ling Perry), BLA trials in NYC (Francisco Torres), Wounded Knee trials (Dennis Banks), and San Quentin 6.
Nothing Is More Precious Than
Nixon-related possible impeachment stories, followed by wide selection of international news, Africa, Portugal, Latin America, Northern Ireland, Chile, then national/local trials/repression.
Nothing Is More Precious Than
Program opens with reading of communique from Weather Underground on bombing of Gulf Oil in Pittsburgh, PA, with extensive history of Portuguese colonialism and national liberation movements.
Other Africa news follows. Then story of acquittal of policeman in shooting of Clifford Glover in NYC, then stories on Chile and protests against ship coming to San Francisco, and then a birthday tribute to Che Guevara.
Nothing is More Precious Than
First program after KPFA strike. Opens with Ho Chi Minh speaking in English, roundup of news from Vietnam, Inez Garcia case with actuality of her speaking, prison movement with George Jackson actuality, Latin America, Puerto Rico, and Africa, with actuality of Amilcar Cabral.
Nothing Is More Precious Than
Show dedicated to the anniversary of the Paris Peace Agreements. Connecting it to the struggles of Vietnam, Amilcar Cabral, and his success in helping Guinea Bissau gain its sovereignty. Show closes off with updates on Latin America focusing on Cuba and Puerto Rico.