Tag Archives: education

bm200 Chile Turns on Bachelet

Just over a year ago, Michelle Bachelet was elected the first female president of Chile. A moderate socialist, there were high expectations about social programs and a more progressive Chilé. However things have not gone as many imagined, and in the last year there has been a sort-of revolt against the president from many social groups. This podcast tells that story.

Guest: Rosario Lizana of Global Voices Online

We Discuss:
-Bachelet’s popularity
-Problems with the education system
-Public Transport Revolt
-The president before
-The situation for women
-The media versus the blogs
-Pasqua Lama goldmine
-The silver lining?
-Argentina

 

note: There will be no special 200th episode, too much time is wasted on the self-congratulating process in the blog-pod-vlogosphere. However, thanks to everyone out there who has listened and still listens to my program, its an honor to part of your listening routine.

Change From Within

This evening, through a series of coincidences and a thoughtful friend, I stumbled upon what is known as “Lloyd Time” at the always bustling Lloyd Hotel, here in Amsterdam. Although the name reminds me of the NYC cops that long ago declared it Giuliani time as they violated a man with a plunger, Lloyd Time is ACTUALLY a weekly night of art, culture, and education, at the hotel restaurant. With invited speakers and a pretty decent audience.

But before any of that, the reason I originally went there, was to be introduced to two special individuals staying at the hotel: two representatives from the Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU). It was an honor to meet them, as I have read and heard so much about their struggle for basic rights and legitimate democratic governance.

There will be a podcast this week, featuring an interview I did on the topic of the ZINASU and the state of the struggle in Zimbabwe. But tonight I just wanted to share with you a very simple, but for me, a very poignant thing that one of the brave students told me.

I asked about the problem of having a corrupt and brutal group of people in charge of her country, and if she ever thought a good solution would be for another country to come in with military force and push that government out of power. (as is so often preached and practiced these days)

She replied something like:

“The solution to the problems in Zimbabwe and the movement to push for real democracy and a true constitution, will come from within the country. And it will come not by coups or the use of guns or war, it will come through direct action and democratic means.”

Of course she said it much better than my quote, and she said alot more than that, so look forward to that on a podcast this week. But keep that in mind next time a politician tries to sell you a war.

And if you ever find yourself in Amsterdam on a monday night and you don’t want to come play frisbee… head over to Lloyd Time.

Greetings from the Lost City of NOLA

Just arrived. Circled the town via automobile. Checked into chez lil’Robin who is just a fantastic person. She’s probably reading this too.. so I’ll withhold all other compliments.

Lots of meetings set up for tomorrow with some interesting projects. NOLA bloggers have not been the most responsive bunch, but I still hope to get some of the great personal publishers of this town to sit town and tell me what has happened and how.

For now this is just a hello to let y’all know, the crusading podcasting journalist has arrived and its amazing to see a city you’ve read, heard, and seen so much about.

Oh and there is a pressing issue that demands some immediate attention and I think EU sanctions.. and that is the Polish government’s rabid homophobia and their desire to erase any references to LGBT issues or history in their education system. Any mention of gay is apparently to be banned as well. (?)

As a very concerned citizen of the EU I think the government should have sanctions put on it and perhaps they should be brought before the EU court of justice for discrimination and violating the fundamental human rights they agree to respect by being part of the EU.

But ok, right now its hard to focus on that.. cause I’m in the Big EASY!

These Kids from Minnesota Crack Me Up

I’m not being sarcastic either. These guys are hilarious.

I’m referring to the group from some higher education institution called Carleton in Minnesota. They’re here on a seminar I helped organize on everyone’s favorite topic “New MEdia”.

Today I made sure the allstar vlogger herself met some of the Amsterdam vloggers, to join in that ritual we call thursday night vlogger drinks.

We Want to Join Europe, the sign reads.

And if you yearn for real information, skip this bla bla and go watch what Richard posted on Insane Films, a video of the news that doesn’t get reported in Iraq. It is very eye-opening and should rightfully drive you insane. Like the fact that its too late for a New Jersey absentee ballot.

The Night Before the American Invasion

They’re coming.

They’re using planes as their method of transportation.

They leave from various US cities, often travelling alone or in groups of 2 or 3.

They travel with a great deal of electronics, mostly ipods, laptops, and other personal devices.

They are very well financed, with enough money to run their operations in Europe for at least 5 months.

They tend to look suspicious, easily identified by speaking loudly in their distinct accent.

And they will stop at nothing, until they can move into our neighborhoods, put up some posters of the icons their worship, and infiltrate our higher education system, posing as students.

… They are the American exchange students. And they arrive in T-Minus 9 hours.

My mission, which few would be brave enough to accept (I need the money and I’m mentally unbalanced), is to assist in this process. I must not show signs of weakness if they complain or make demands of me. I must be stoic and in control. Although they may be determined to disrupt my freedom and way of life, I must meet them head on, for my mission is noble and I will not give in to their desctructive, my-closet-isn’t-big-enough ideology.

City Still Has Magic

I left Lisbon about 4 years ago for Amsterdam. I had only been working here for a year.. but the city and I had a love affair that stretches back to the first time my parents allowed me to stay here on my own back in 1997. I was seventeen and allowed to stay in this little apartment on my own, and enrolled in summer courses at the university of lisbon. Some organization called the Portuguese-American something funded my education here, which made things even better, making it so I could have some money to travel around the country with all the great friends from school. I think it was back then that I knew I wanted to leave the US and live in this city.

My how things change. The metro now has a fully automated turnstyle system, which seemed like a joke that would never work 4 years ago. The once compact metro system not stretches far beyond any area I’ve ever been to. Once abandoned and forgotten apartment buildings now look like luxury lofts with blindingly beautiful paint jobs. My beloved late night book shop has moved and shrunk in size, but remains a centerpiece in the night life world for those who like books more than overpriced cocktails.

And yet. Things are as they always were. That same cat still sits in the windowsil down my street. My dear Elsa is still serving lunch at my favorite english pub. And that same blind guy is still tapping his stick and he moves from metro car to metro car in search of spare change. With its occasional flashes of modernity, Lisbon still remains Lisbon. Old, gritty, delicious, and romantic. Yup… it still has its magic.