Unemployed, in Greenland

Is it our attention span? Is it the sheer magnitude of a problem that effects an entire planet regardless of who you are, where you live, or how much money you have? Is it that this dam LOST SEASON 1 box set is so dam addictive? Today I’ve been wondering and reading the results of the UK government study that says very clearly, unless something significant is done to cut greenhouse gases, the greenland ice sheet will melt, and the oceans will rise in a big way; some of your favorite cities, including my dear Amsterdam, will become the new Atlantis.

I’ve been wondering why so little is done. While some governments make a token commitment like the kyoto thing, some governments like the US, Australia, and their new buddies in the Canadian government, refuse to do a dam thing in the name of economic growth. Hope that economic growth makes some floating cities and one of those machines that lets you recycle urine into drinking water like in that crappy Costner film… cause that’s the future.

But it doesn’t feel like it.. does it? I mean, sure it feels like spring in New York City right now. And it snowed for the first time in who knows how long in much of Portugal yesterday. And study after study comes out. While information is supressed. All this, helping to make the FACT that global warming is an undeniable and severe threat to everyone on this planet… somehow not a priority in our minds and for our elected officials.

One day, when this civilization is but a memory, a more intellegent species will study humankind and be completely baffled at how we purposely persued our own extinction.

He Didn’t Constantly Garden

After another Portuguese-in-Amsterdam dinner last night, involving some of my favorite former Lisbonites turned Amsterdamers, I decided 1 in the morning was a goodtime to finally sit and watch the Constant Gardener. Now I wouldn’t normally talk about films on the blog, unless they really deserve to be spoken about… and this little picture caught my eye.

If many of you haven’t heard of it, It’s not very surprising, since it tackles the very un-hip themes of development, AIDs in Africa, diplomacy, big pharma, and white guilt. I’m sure Howard isn’t spending much time on those with all his free speech bullshit rhetoric. But the Constant Gardener, in all it’s imperfection, does a decent job of walking the line between increasing awareness about the health crises in Africa, criticizing how the west behaves towards those countries, and just telling a love story. Not great on either of these, mind you, but again – a good effort.

Surprisingly, what the film really made me think about was what I will call “white guilt.” What does this term mean to you? When I say white guilt, I’m thinking of the feeling by individuals from wealthy nations primarily in Europe and North America, who feel guilty about the incalculable amout of sufferring going on outside their country, and perhaps to their benefit. Sometimes this guilt leads them to act, by donating money or even becoming an aid-worker themselves.

In my daily routine at the university fishtank, I believe I’ve seen something like white guilt. Young men and women show up to persue their graduate degrees, but more importantly, they arrive determined to go “work in Africa.” Be they Canadian, American, German, Swedish, Dutch, French, Portuguese…. I’ve seen it all. I’ve looked into the eyes of young and inexperienced people and seen this look of duty; that their calling lies in the sufferring of the poor nations of the world. It is both impressive and bizarre- just considering how they arrive at this feeling, or why, or if they are even capable of making a difference. Sometimes, I admit, I even think they are full of shit, trying to fill some void or emotional short-coming with what sounds like a noble cause. That’s not to say they don’t go on to do great things – they do. But is the world getting better because of it? – that part is hard to see from where I sit in my comfy chair.

I bet the Lounge Chicken would be a good guy to ask about all this. I smell a show topic.

bm99 Behind Wikipedia

By now you’ve probably heard about or consulted wikipedia to seek information and answers to life’s questions. But what do you know about the collaborative encyclopedia? What about the rules and the people working behind the scenes, how do they manage or not-manage the content that can so often be contreversial or simply vandalized. Im joined in this program by wikipedia editor and administrator David Gerard, as we discuss how wikipedia really works, and what the future holds for information as well as news reporting from wikimedia.

AudioCommunique #99(mp3)

Discussed:
Updates on Hamas, Canadian Elections, GI Jane
News Item – US Military Using Tactic of Kidnapping Suspected Terrorists’ Wives
On the line from London, David Gerard
The orgins of Wikipedia
Wikipedia as Compared the Traditional Encyclopedia
Wikinews – a place for citizen journalists?
Taking out the Garbage
The George W. Bush page – the stalemate
The Bicyclemark’s Communique Entry – explained
Implications for school children
The Future

Music:
Slackers – Information Error
Paco Ibañez – Villancico

Off to Rotterdam, where Im going to meet one of the YesMen today! (I hope)

OZ Day

My roomate glanced at the calendar and wished me a happy Australia day. And I went over to wiki-P and read about the fact that yes indeed it is Australia day and why. Since many of you don’t live or hear much from that part of the world, here it is in a nutshell:

Australia Day is Australia’s official national day, January 26. It commemorates the landing of the First Fleet in Sydney Cove on that day in 1788.

And so because its late and I’m on the phone with Madge, I present you with good solid Australian sources that I injest fairly often:

Background Briefing and All in the Mind, two excellent podcasts from ABC radio national. And since Im talking OZ podcasts, I’ve added Nimbin radio of Northern NSW to my blogroll.

And two Australian bloggers that I wanted to mention: Chosha and Jim in Sweden.

So Happy Australia Day… where the flag burning is recognized as an expression of political dissent instead of some wacky crime.

A Newark Renaissance for Who?

Part of living abroad for years and years is to not think about the past too much. Of course you have your good memories, but in general I think the focus is on today and tomorrow, because if you think too much about yesterday you start thinking of people and places from the past.. which slows you down.. messes with your head.

Naturally there are pictures and stories that can send you into a time warp. I’ve got lots of them, for example: if you mention the city of Newark, New Jersey.

As soon as you mention it my mind starts to wander. I go back in time, to the city of my birth. The city my family immigrated to, and the city that provided the backdrop for huge chunks of my childhood. The city where still today, much of my family can still be found working, day in and day out.

When I saw the village voice’s close-up series did one on Newark recently, I had another one of those moments. Renaissance they say. Renaissance for who, I ask? Rents that go for 1000 dollars a month and higher? Sweep out the poor and working class people who don’t spend big bucks at your luxery arena or performing arts center? I know i talk excessively about gentrification and the ever-increasing gap between rich and poor, but the more I hear these terms the more I have to denounce them.

The ironbound, the Portuguese neighborhood I grew up around, never needed fancy chain stores, expensive sports venues, or wealthy refugee’s from Manhattan to make it a unique and loved place. All it needed was caring people who arrived from all over the world to carve out their corner, no matter how small. Hell they even managed despite one of the most corrupt city governments in the world! Renaissance? Save that crap for the guys who yell huuzzah wielding bows and arrows, who come around once a year.

And if you can get your hands on it, here’s an excellent documentary on Newark’s Corruption which I saw in Amsterdam recently.

bm98 GI Jane off to Afghanistan

Jane is an American soldier who was supposed to be a civilian by now. Instead, with questionable body armor, little notice, and being legally blind, she’s being shipped to Northern Afghanistan. Hear the excellent and eye-opening conversation I had with her recently from her base in the US. Special thanks to Madame L for putting me in touch with her.

AudioCommunique #98(mp3)

Discussed:
Portuguese Geriatric Presidental Elections
New Canadian Government
Insane Dutch Minister of Immigration and How Im prepared to go to jail
Interview with GI Jane (vital listening!)
More audio of GI Jane on Madame L’s podcast

Music:

Nas – Revolutionary Warfare
Dixie Chicks (stop laughing) – Travelling Soldier
Clash – English Civil War