Thai’s Don’t Want Your Free Trade

Free Trade agreement with North America. Free Trade Agreement with Jordan. Free Trade Agreement with Chilé…. seems like everday they’re negociating a new one. After awhile one has to wonder, what’s the point? It’s not like it’s special anymore. And even the results are questionable; with some countries reporting improved economies, but they also report high prices, increased poverty, etc etc. There’s no solid conclusion that can be drawn about free trade, for every good side it seems there is a bad side.

But nevermind my own musings about FreeTrade, let’s look at Thailand, where thousands upon thousands have been on the streets this week to say “we don’t want your free trade” while US and Thai officials negociate what is supposed to be a lovely free trade agreement. I’ve been reading the list of reasons that people are opposing this deal:: The dominance of expensive American perscription drugs, US managed deregulation of utilities, and of course the impact of cheap farm products driving Thai farmers out of business.

When you consider the importance and prevelance of farming as a way of life for a nation such as Thailand. And then consider the 600,000 people living with AIDS and dependant on affordable medicine, it is no wonder they’re out there protesting, asking the often overlooked question, Free Trade for Who?

PS– Im working on a show about engaging what some call terrorist groups in the political process. I’ll be discussing the history and present situation of three in particular: Sinn Fein, Batasuna, and Hamas. If you’ve got any unique insight on these or other groups, get in touch.

Comfront the Diabetes Epidemic

I know I have a decent amout of readers who are diabetic. I also can think of one friend and blogger who is. Not to mention in my family, where I know there have been some diabetics including my dad who may be reading this right now on his shiney new computer. Yet somehow, in both conversations with friends and the mass media, it’s rare to hear about the diabetes epidemic that is sweeping the US, especially New York City.

Just to make sure Im not abusing that word, not that I care very much about not abusing words, lets go to the definition:

Ms. Webster says:

Epidemic – 1 : affecting or tending to affect a disproportionately large number of individuals within a population, community, or region at the same time
2 a : excessively prevalent b : CONTAGIOUS 4
3 : of, relating to, or constituting an epidemic

According to the American Diabetes Society, it is most certainly an epidemic affecting 20.8 million Americans, 7% of the population! According to the Guardian, the poorest areas of places like New York City (Bronx, Brooklyn) have a higher percentage of people affected. This is a result of a combination of factors which may include genes, but the one that sticks out in my eyes is DIET. When you consider how terrible the mainstream American diet is (Im talking about the fast food 5 days a week), you can see where the increased risk arises. That and lack of exercise, as usual.

Not to compare conditions or make some competition between health problems, but I think more research and awareness needs to exist in terms of this problem. We hear lots about cancer. We hear insane amounts about bird flu. But when you take something that effects all of us directly, like diabetes, and call into question the diet promoted by big business…. it gets awfully quiet.

bicyclemark94: Coal, Money, and Politicians – Making Profits of Death and Corruption

This program looks into not only what happened at the Sago coal mine in West Virginia, it examines and scrutinizes the record of International Coal and other mining companies, the state government and regulatory agencies, and the senate and white house relationship with these companies. The point is to understand why such accidents happen, and to demand better from all parties involved, not just sentimental fluff and reports without hard questions.

AudioCommunique #94(mp3)
40min+, 80kbps, 24Mb+

Links of use:

The video with the coal miners son
Hoovers Business info
Open Secrets
Washington Post article
NWistheOne
Pedals and Politics

Beautiful Music on this one:

Billy Bragg and Joe Strummer – Junco Partner
Mother Judge – Dream of a Coalminer’s Daughter
Ralph Stanley and Dwight Yokum – Coal Miner’s Prayer
Billy Joel – Allentown
Woody Guthrie – The Dying Coal Miner
Uncle Tupelo – Coalminers

Surprises While in Belgium

I guess I’m a small time internet celebrity. Maybe not. But in my daily life, it sure feels like it. things happen, people get in touch, do things for me, connect with me…. its a crazy feeling. Kind of like a walking on air, I can do anything type of feeling. Which is amazing cause I don’t even know how Im going to afford health insurance this year, nevermind fighting the forces of evil in the world.

But nevermind that. I’m in Brussels doing a post-christmas visit, which means I’ve acquired some lovely and practical gifts, and I get to run around discussing important issues in French most of the day. – Mais di donc! – So instead of writing any further, I shall present to you a series of links that have somehow instersected with my offline and online life:

Ditta called from somewhere in the amazon. Apparently they’ve chopped down most of the trees and they have internet cafes equipped with skype.

Gil of BeligumFM sent word that he was coming to Amsterdam for the day, both through his podcast and email, turns out we switched locations at the wrong time.

Emmanuel from 2600, who barely knows I exist but I love and help support his radio show, was actually in amsterdam for a night on his way back from the Kaos Communication Conference. unfortunately I heard that podcast just as his plane was arriving back at JFK.

BlondeButBright arrived in Amsterdam tonight. After many a month back in Mini-Soda. To say that I’ve missed alot her would be an understatement.

this is all very cosmic…

Preparing for a Coal Show

I’m presently preparing for my next program about the coal industry in the US and the world over the past 50 years. Maybe 50 is too much… at least the last 15. The minute I heard about this mine accident I immediately started to think about the push by the Bush administration and associated senators, to encourage the building of more coal plants and focus more on using coal. “Clean Coal Technology” was the oxymoron the megamoron president would keep repeating. Over and over. And of course, he got his way.

>I’ve been looking over the numbers, and worldwide, especially in China and the US, coal is growing and growing. Seems so strange to look at the year – 2006 – and then look at the fact that modern nations still use coal, despite the extreme air pollution, the mercury that contaminates most everything in the area of a plant, and the extremely dangerous conditions that miners work in. Is this the modern answer for a modern world? Seems more like the good ol’ boys trying to make good’ol money the good’ol way.

The usual channels that claim to bring you news are filled with sob stories, sound bites, and sad faces. Have they bothered to start asking real questions about what’s going on with coal? How is the coal industry effecting these communities? Is the focus on new coal plants and more coal a sustainable and healthy one for a country… hell… for a planet? As much as Im also concerned for other countries, especially China which is the biggest coal producer ever, I look extra critically at the US, cause as an American, I know the country is capable of much better; more creative, innovative, and forward thinking ideas. Not this old fashioned and dangerous obsession with filling our lungs and our lives with black soot in persuit of the mighty dollar.

More on my next podcast, which will come to you from Brussels… Im hitching a ride in 4 hours.

bicyclemark93: Chilean Elections and Social inSecurity

FIXED – I’m joined from Chilé by Brad from Willing Warrior.com, one of the most dynamic new videobloggers out there. We discuss the upcoming elections and their significance for the country, the region, and hey – the world.
I also break down the good and the bad of the private social security system there with help from lots of academics, journalists, and economists.

AudioCommunique #93(mp3)
41min+, 80kbps, 24Mb+

In the discussion I refer to:

Elections, Round 2
Bachelet vs. Piñera, the clash of two social movements
The income gap and free trade
The effects of the private pension system on the Chilean economy
The model for other nations?
The unsustainable debt of the system

Music and Sound:

Victor Jara – Te Recuerdo Amanda
Salvador Allende – Ultimo Discurso
Isabel Allende – from an audio archive CD I found in the US
Tiro de Gracia – El Juego Verdadero
Omara Portuondo – A Salvador Allende en Su Combate por la Vita
Antony and the Johnsons – Spiralling