Podcasting since 2004; Conversations, conflicts, adventures and monologues from around the world.
The wise and wonderful Hanna Braun joins me once again to discuss the past and the results of previous Israeli incursions into Lebanon. A former member of the Israeli Defence Force before Israel was even a state, she helps dissect the current situation and the responses from the international community. (Partially recorded on the road so pardon some quality lapses)
I always wondered when my impoverished neighborhood of Lisbon would finally have some Wifi signals. And for the first time ever.. there’s one on the radar besides the one that I create with my airport express. Very exciting… even if somehow it doesn’t work for me.
There’s a show being uploaded right now… but its going to take 2 hours to upload. This is painful.
The good new is that I was on BBC Worldservice “World Have Your Say” again today. This time the subject was how I feel about my government’s policy regarding Lebanon-Israel. If you want to know what I said, you’ll have to find the audio.. somewhere in the BBC Radio website. I couldn’t find it and my internet is barely existant.
I will just add that it was exciting to get the call from the Beeb even here in Lisbon. Last week I was Mark in the Netherlands… today I was Mark in Portugal… I want to keep moving just to hear how it sounds when I speak on the radio.
I’m going to leave it at that until this show is posted. I think I’m on vacation right now.
In the meantime… go read THIS IS BEIRUT… written by some friends and friends of friends who grew up in or are tied to Beirut in some manner.
I’m going to save the discussion about the terrible war crime that the Israeli military committed today by bombing the UN observer post. Someone in charge has clearly lost their mind and must be arrested and face charges in the international criminal court. But again, thats for a future post, so save the comments on that issue.
Today’s issue starts with a story. A few hours ago, as I cruised in from a leisurely boat ride around the Jordaan and Prinseneiland, I noticed a boat-owner-neighbor parked a few spots up from me, standing in his boat waving to me. “Nice Lamp” he shouted in Dutch, referring to my pink colored lantern that gets alot of comments somehow. I thanked him and began to tie my ropes and chain to the usual places on land. The man’s smile changed when he saw this, and he gave out a warning “make sure you lock everything up and chain it properly, this guy who usually parks between us had his boat stolen last night”. Stolen? I stared at him in disbelief. Thoughts of what a nice neighborhood we live in, and why would anyone want to steal that boat which I remember being fairly unremarkable. Are you sure – I asked. A boat stolen, here? He started laughing and went on to talk about how easy it is and how our neighborhood is not immune to theft of anykind.
Which reminded me of larger issues at play in this beloved city. Amsterdam has tons of beautiful things. Whether you cruise down on bike or on boat, you’ll be able to see people sitting in their luxurious houses, or cruising by in their fancy boats. In terms of haves and have nots, this city’s haves like to flaunt what they’ve got.
Of course, this is what you see on the surface. If you go out to the far off neighborhoods.. things are somewhat different. People don’t have as much to flaunt, and thanks to a number of different issues and circumstances, many decide that stealing from the haves is a good way to acquire some quick cash if not thrills.
While I don’t like the idea of my stuff being stolen, especially my boat which spends many hours out there on the water, alone… after observing Dutch society over the years, I’m not so surprised. Matter of fact, it seems inevitable. With all the in-your-face luxury of this city, that a relatively small yet very visible population exhibit. Combined with lots of disaffected youth, with limited prospects for fullfilling or even just earning a higher standard of living then the one they’re born into. That my boat or my neighbors boat, regardless of weather he and I are fairly financially well of or not, might be targeted…. not that much of a surprise.
People talk alot of Europe’s safety nets. Some of it warranted. Much of it has been picked apart and made more difficult to attain. Quality of life remains high, and poverty is of course not as prevelant as it is in most other countries… but still… one thing is certain… if the political and social winds keep blowing the way they’re blowing.. the Red August is gonna need thicker chains and a bigger lock.
Leaving for Portugal in the morning.. see you on the other side!
Just got off the phone with my dear brother in New Jersey… asking about how things are going for his household, and of course, my dearest 2 year old nephew known as A-Ren. Throughout the latest events transpiring between Israel and Lebanon, I’ve been thinking about how people explain things to their children, or what lessons children learn by observing the behavior of nations. Although it’s not really something a 2 year old needs explaining, I can imagine at the more inquisitive ages, say 5 or 6, kids will have lots of questions about why things are happening this way or perhaps they will in some way be effected in the long run, in terms of their behavior in relation to conflict.
That said, the following is a brief letter from ME to A-ren… which I imagine him reading maybe when he is 6 years old or so. If you don’t like the letter, please keep in mind, it’s not for you.. it’s for my nephew, and the internets can read it if they want to.
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Dear A-Ren,
Hi buddy. I write this email to you from the year 2006.. summertime actually. I’m over here in Amsterdam, and I know you’re over there in New Jersey, swimming alot and playing outside. What you probably don’t notice, but lot’s of people are watching – is the news. All over the world people are pretty concerned, as alot of people are in danger and really scared.. while other people are very angry and trying to hurt them.
I know when you read this, you’ll be in elementary school, and learning new things everyday. You’ll have lots of friends to play with, and sometimes maybe some children will not be nice to you. There might even be another little boy or girl who try to make you mad, take things from you, or hurt you in some way.
Other kids might tell you to do something bad to them.. to be mean to them back. You might even get really mad and feel like throwing something at them in the playground.. or pushing them. But I want to give you some really important advice:
When you get really mad like that… take a deep breath. If you feel like yelling… yell. If you feel like running.. run. But if you feel like hurting someone… do not do it. I know how it feels to be angry with other people… I had that too in school. I would get very angry and stamp my feet and yell alot. To tell you truth, I even used to bang my head against the wall when I got angry… pretty dumb huh?
The important thing to always remember, no matter how angry you are, is that hurting someone will not make it better. And if you do hurt someone, you are now just as bad they are, and they might want to one day hurt you back to get revenge.
Speaking up for yourself and standing up for yourself is very hard sometimes, and lots of people will tell you it is important to do it. But there are different ways to do it. Some friends might tell you that in order to stand up for yourself, you have to hurt others. The bad thing is, now you’re hurting someone, and maybe you’re behaving just as bad as the other boy or girl.
Anyway, I’m sure your dad told you all about this. But when you watch the news sometimes, you might see something different. Grownups have lots of disagreements, and lots of them think that hurting others in order to stop them from hurting you is the best answer to fix disagreements and stay safe. No matter what you see on TV or hear from other friends, this way of doing things is no good. The sad part is, they’ve been doing it this way for many years, and they still think one day it will work. The really really sad part is, they keep hurting each other, and many people get hurt.. and even die.. because many grownups don’t learn from the mistakes they made before… just like on the playground.
I hope this isn’t too much advice from your old far-away uncle. I just want to make sure you know that you’ve got lots of help whenever you have a problem, and with a family like ours, we can find the right way to solve it- together.
love,
Uncle BM
When Xolo.tv and Lyssa videoblogged a stroll around the office with Angela Merkel, it became the shot heard round the german blogosphere. In this program we talk about both the praise and criticism for how politicians are or will use personal media in order to communicate with us – their bosses (in theory).
Watch the Xolo.tv video
Read Lyssa’s Lounge (in German)
I’ve spent the past 2 long, sticky, blazing hot days volunteering for Amsterdam’s beloved frisbee association during the biggest annual tournament we’ve got. And while sometimes it seemed as though no one was paying attention to or even remotely troubled about the events unfolding in the world, within the tournament and the games, I took notice of all the different countries and how wonderfully we all came together for this purpose.
There were plenty of disputes, plenty of cultural differences. Yet it was exciting to see how these conflicts were resolved and differences were never allowed to become excuses for huge bitter disagreements. In the end, we all speak this common language – ultimate frisbee.
I just wish the citizens of the world could do similar… seriously decide to speak the language of understanding, mutual respect, and peace. Instead of pretending these are the goals which can only be achieved through death and destruction. Such a concept is a wonderful political tool for creating many open-ended wars.
A podcast is forthcoming. Many interviews this week before I disappear to Portugal. The conversation with Afghanistan is coming very soon… the rest.. just stay tuned.. or better yet.. subsribed in your favorite newsreader.