I pay a visit to Greenpeace International to followup on what is going on with fishing rights in Mauritania.
People Outside, My People
Just wanted to dedicate a few minutes to saluting the trouble makers outside the democrat party convention in Colorado.
While inside it is all smiling faces, boring pre-written speaches, and picture perfect pageantry, outside the convention- people are standing up, sitting down, marching, and engaging in all kinds of demonstrations related to issues of ending wars, restoring rights, and a long list of other issues todays mainstream politicians would like to keep quiet.? Of course we can’t rely on the corporate media to inform us about these demonstrations; but thankfully we have the net roots to provide information about what is going on OUTSIDE.
No it won’t result in much when all is said and done.? The game will go on and the next convention will soon kick off with even more people marching outside, with an even longer list of grievances.? But when I turn on the television and I see the political show with its long and boring cast of characters, it brings me great comfort to know I’m not alone… my people are right outside.
Update – BaghdadBrian Released!
I received news from Eowyn earlier today that BaghdadBrian has been freed and is en route to Los Angeles.? 7 other US citizens were also released.? Unfortunately 2 other international detainees who I believe were being held with Brian are still being held and their fate is unknown.
Apparently the amount of international pressure demanding their early release was quite significant and may have been a factor in these events unfolding as fast as they have.? I’ve been told that the story of Brian/the Beijing 6 had spread through the internets and to several high profile major media outlets.
Whatever the cause, I’m relieved that my friend and colleague is safe and out of such a dangerous place for journalists. Though still and always concerned for those who remain incarcerated regardless of their nationality, held for exercising basic universal human rights which the Chinese government claims to respect.
bm275 Baghdad Brian Arrested in China
Fellow independent video blogger and friend Baghdad Brian, along with 5 other individuals, was arrested Thursday in Beijing. They are accused of being part of an overseas pro-tibet activist group. Brian was there to report about the demonstrations during the olympics as an independent journalist.
Chinese authorities say they must serve a 10 day jail sentence, according to the American embassy the conditions they are living in are better than average (perhaps because they’re foreigners). Since the start of the olympic games at least 400 people have disappeared as part of the continued repression of pro tibet and other human rights demonstrations. These disappeared include many journalists who are their without the supervision of Chinese government handlers.
The following podcast features an interview with Brian’s wife, Eowyn, who explains what she knows about Brian’s situation, the group, and people who have risked their freedom and well-being in protest of the Chinese government and their disregard for basic human rights. More information can be found here. Please listen to the program and do pass on the link, otherwise all we have is the image of the mainstream press… the picture perfect images of the olympic games and China on television.
Music:
Phil Ochs – I’m Going to Say it Now
Utah Phillips – Ain’t it Grand
Mauritania and Greenpeace, Round 2
An unexpected series of emails came my way today from several concerned citizens around the world, as well as Greenpeace Netherlands.
The topic of these emails was a reaction to my podcast with Pauline last week, regarding some of her work in West Africa over the last year.? In that program I brought up the topic of Mauritania, as I remember she had been there to look into the fishing industry and a controversy surrounding the selling of rights to fishing their waters to EU based companies, (including a Dutch company that uses bottom dredging, though I did not ask specifically about that technique).? One of the major sides in this struggle, as Pauline mentioned, is Greenpeace, who are acting to stop such fishing in Mauritania and throughout the world, due to its extremely destructive impact on the world’s ocean.
During the interview Pauline discusses things that most journalists in the mainstream will not tell you. The background to what she was thinking as she made her way around Mauritania, and how her observations influenced her opinion about what she was seeing.? Although I wish mainstream media would do more of that, instead of pretending to be so neutral and perfect, I recognize that alot of people and institutions out there, expect their journalists to behave as the mythical impartial news reporter.? Again, it is why I think podcasts can be of greater value if we really want to understand how and why the world is as it is; that vital understanding that no information is perfect, but by being a critical and engaged audience, we can not only be informed, we can understand that there are many sides worth keeping in mind, to an issue or disagreement.
So Pauline explained the side of those who see the practice of selling fishing rights to outside companies, despite the environmental risks, as worth it.? It should come at no surprise that regardless of where you stand on such questions, plenty of people on the ground in poor nations like Mauritania, will want to take the deal in the name of having jobs and boosting an economy.? YES, even to their extreme detriment in the long run. That doesn’t make it right, it is simply a fact that I felt Pauline communicated quite clearly in our interview.
In today’s emails, many people expressed their outrage that anyone would suggest that bottom dredging is ok and good for Mauritania.? They spoke critically and angrily at Pauline’s writing in the Dutch newspaper, and used my interview as some kind of evidence supporting their critique.? Greenpeace Netherlands have now asked to appear on my podcast to clarify there side in this. Obviously I’m glad to have them on, and eager to hear more about the situation in Mauritania. It is an issue, not to mention an important organization, that I’ll be proud to have on my program. But one thing I can say right now, none of this changes the respect I have for Pauline and the value I give to her work.
Expect that interview in the coming week
bm274 The Ironbound Through My Father’s Eyes
My father Alfredo Rendeiro joins me to talk about Newark, the Ironbound, since the late 1960’s when he first arrived from Portugal.