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I’ve been collecting articles about the antarctic, for future use in podcasts relating to what is happening there.  While my interest is in the nations with competing claims over pieces of the antarctic, I’m also interested in how global warming is speeding up the ice melting there and what happens as a result.

One story I read today, was about the animal known as “pink gold” or “krill”, which is abundant in Antarctica.  According to the article, Krill are:

small shrimp-like crustaceans which with modern technology can be used in fish feed, human dietary supplements, soya sauce flavoring, pharmaceuticals, or even to clean the paintings of Old Masters .

The list of uses and benefits of Krill go on and on, and well worth reading. But there is also a great danger that they are being overfished, which brings a whole other list of problems for the antarctic ecosystem.

Another issue is invasive species.  Wherever you live you certainly come into contact with some type of invasive species; plant or animal life that is not native to your area but was introduced somehow and becomes overwhelming to all others and in turn damages the ecosystem.

In the case of Antarctica, scientists and tourists have apparently unknowingly caused invasive species to appear there.  Even the smallest of  moss or mold, or even rats coming off visiting ships, are a huge risk to Antarctica which is known for never having experienced any type of major invasive species.

The learning continues… related podcast coming soon.

It has been some time, since the show changed format, that I was blown away by an episode of Radio Open Source.  They’ve been doing alot of arts related interviews, they being Chris Lydon, and I’ve felt the show has lost its global conversation feel.  But nevermind that, today I was riding my bike from the University of Amsterdam and I almost forgot where I was… as the interview Chris did was really that powerful.

His guest is a gentleman named Michael Haynes, who had a special relationship with Martin Luther King Jr, and founded a church with him in Boston.  The man has tremendous insight into MLK and his philosophy.  Often times, when someone starts on about what MLK would say about the state of the US today, it is almost cliché…. and empty.  But not in this case… Haynes had me rewinding and listening again and stopping just to consider what he said.

I strongly recommend you take some time from all that is so important in your daily routine, or maybe just pop this onto your mp3 player instead of that Radiohead album you’ve been listening to over and over again.  In fact, if you happen to be a teacher, make this one a special lesson this week. It is better than any history book, I can promise you that.

This vlog entry is about the US military buildup in Guam. The government is moving its forces from Japan to this tiny island over the next 6 years, and the place already has problems supporting the military bases it has. Of course its much more complicated that this, watch the vlog.. its a start.

Click To Play

Click To Play

 Podcast Video [6:05m]: Download

January 26th is Australia day, and what a good year to talk about the land down under, where changes are taking place that have caught my attention in a positive way.

Prior to his election, I confess I didn’t know much about the new Australian PM Kevin Rudd. Observers in and around Australia said that he was different, a man who would shake things up… they even called him an environmentalist.

Obviously time will tell how much he is or is not the real deal when it comes to an Australian leader who challenges the status quo. But in the last month he has already gotten my full attention, especially when he formally apologized and re-enforced the plan to pay reparations to Aboriginal people in Tasmania.

Throughout the 18 and 1900’s, aboriginal people of Tasmania were subjected to diseases and sicknesses brought over with European settlers. Between 1800 and 1833 their population decreased from 6,000 to 300. Later other attrocities would take place, with children of aboriginal people being taken away from them by the government, or when a christian missionary promised a safe place to live on another island for the remaining people, and when they arrived they were left to their own devices, once again facing starvation, disease, and death.

Which a history like this, seems rather insulting to celebrate Australia day. But what I’d like to do instead is celebrate some overdue positive steps in Australia, towards coming to grips with history, as well as the present. Not to mention, finally electing leaders and adopting policies that reflect an compassionate, forward thinking, and mature society.

During my recent appearance on Yeast Radio I was asked about where I get my information, in terms of podcasts. In an effort to recommend and share my sources for reporting about the world and a wide range of issues, this program is a list of what I listen to and why.

The links to these podcasts can be found among my podcast links in the blogroll, which can be found in the menu bar to your right. Remember these are not just the podcasts I listen to, they are those that I look to for reporting on issues that have a global impact. Below are a few that I mention that are not in my blogroll.

International Herald Tribune Audio News

Americablog Podcast

On The Media

Mixed Greens

The State We’re In / Amsterdam Forum; from Radio Netherlands

Hispanorama from RNE

La Bas Si J’y Suis

TSF Pessoal e Transmissivél / Sinais

Deutsche Welle

ABC Radio National’s Background Briefing / All in the Mind

Uprising

 Standard Podcast [28:04m]: Play Now | Download

Instead of working on a podcast today, I was a guest on Yeast Radio live.  I highly recommend you listen regularly to Madge Weinstein’s Yeast Radio, unless you’re afraid of an opinionated, possibly insane, angry womyn with a y.  I don’t mention her program enough, perhaps because I don’t give my audience enough credit that they wouldn’t understand what is both, enlightening and just plain fun about her podcast.

 In this particular program we talk about some of my sources for audio on the internet, what is wrong with all the candidates currently seeking the nomination in the United States, and the environment or lack of discussion about the environment by the media and the candidates themselves. Of course in between all this there is constant feedback from the audience in the chat room, and plenty of Madgisms that even Madge herself cannot explain.