Cocktails & Capitalism
Cocktails & Capitalism is a podcast that pairs crafted beverages with stories distilled from our capitalist hellscape. This is more than a true corporate crime show — our episodes uplift the activists and organizers who are working to oppose the destructive forces of capitalism and begin creating a better reality.
.
Our crafted cocktails help us tap into the gallows humor necessary for surviving late stage capitalism. Some of these stories can get pretty dark, so get ready and grab a drink! You can even make the custom cocktail or mocktail crafted by our resident bartender, Jesse Torres. (Find the recipes in our episode notes!)
.
We are committed to making this show free and accessible for everyone. Since we don’t want to engage in capitalist advertising practices to fund this project, we’ve decided to make this a listener-supported show. You can help us sustain this anticapitalist independent media project by signing up on Patreon for any monthly amount.
.
Huge thanks to the amazing anticapitalists who are supporting this project! Cheers & solidarity forever!
https://www.patreon.com/cocktailsandcapitalism
Cocktails & Capitalism
Chevron’s Corporate Prosecution of Steven Donziger with Paul Paz y Miño (& the Class Action Cocktail)
This week, we dive into Chevron’s corporate prosecution of lawyer Steven Donziger with Paul Paz y Miño – the associate director of Amazon Watch.
Defending farmers and Indigenous folks who have been poisoned by ChevronTexaco’s pollution, Donziger helped to win a $9.5 billion judgment against the company for the devastation it caused in Ecuador. Instead of paying up, Chevron retaliated by demonizing Donziger. They conducted the very first corporate criminal prosecution in America, involving judges, law firms, and a private prosecutor, all of whom have direct ties to Chevron. They even stripped Donziger of his law license and kept him arbitrarily detained for nearly 1000 days — something that the UN and Amnesty International have condemned.
Chevron’s treatment of Donziger shows us how corporations can use their wealth to harass and punish those who dare speak out against their crimes. The oil giant’s legal retaliation and intimidation tactics provide a blueprint to other companies seeking to skirt accountability and punish their opponents. At the same time, this story shows us “the anatomy of the corporate response” as Paul observes. It helps us understand and prepare ourselves for the tactics that fossil fuel companies and other mega corporations will use against Earth and human rights defenders in the decades ahead.
Don’t miss our last episode on “ChevronTexaco’s Crimes in Ecuador”
Donate to the Donziger defense fund here!
May 21st is ANTI-CHEVRON DAY – an international day of action! More here: The True Cost of Chevron
For more information and ways to help, check out Amazon Watch
More on the history here: ChevronToxico
Class Action Cocktail
45 ml Aguardiente or light rum
105 ml Horchata Lojana tea, brewed and filtered
15 ml Panela or other raw sugar
15 ml Lemon juice
Build this drink in a clear heat proof mug if drinking hot, or your favorite clear glass if drinking cold. Ice isn’t necessary if your batch everything ahead of time and refrigerate. Add all ingredients to your glass and stir to incorporate. Garnish with an edible flower and enjoy!
Adjust the proportions if you’d like your drink less or more sweet or boozy.
Glassware: Clear heat proof mug
Garnish: Edible flower
ABV: 12%
Thank you to Jesse Torres for another amazing drink!
CC Photo credits:
Paul Paz y Miño protesti
Cocktails & Capitalism is an anticapitalist labor of love, but we could use your help to make this project sustainable. If you can support with even a dollar a month, that would really help us continue to educate, agitate, and amplify the voices of those who are working to dismantle capitalism and create a better world.
https://www.patreon.com/cocktailsandcapitalism
Follow us on Instagram and Twitter
Some episodes on YouTube. Subscribe & enjoy! Cheers!