Lula Still Rocks

When Lula became president of Brazil, it represented a turning point in latin american politics. Around the same time his workers party was voted in, in Uraguay, Equador, Chile, etc…. the masses decided to put a left-leaning party in power. Probably in hopes to put an end to the poverty they’d been living in since the days of colonialism.

When he got in, I was psyched. He put more women and black people in cabinet positions then ever before. He brought members of one of the most famous grassroots social movements in the world, MST (The Landless Movement), in his cabinet. Hell, he made Brazil’s most beloved singer, Gilberto Gil, minister of culture. Then he started talking about how global trade rules unfairly favored rich nations, and that Brazil would seek to make their own system, one where third world nations wouldn’t simply be forced to live by the rules the first world makes. As if that weren’t enough, one of his main programs – fome zero – sought to eradicate hunger in the country.

Clearly this progressive agenda (though not all his policies are that progressive) would generate lots of enemies amongst the powerful forces, home and abroad. Just to add fuel to the fire, I loved when Brazil decided that since the US fingerprints all foreign visitors, Brazil will fingerprint all American visitors. hahaha. But the inevitable has happened — a scandal involving money, corruption, and his party.

While we all know power can corrupt, I don’t buy this one. A man who grew up in the poorest state in Brazil. A man who sold oranges on the street, and later led strikes against a dictatorship. A man who lost one of his fingers in an industrial accident — I highly doubt he’s guilty. Rather — I think those traditional forces are trying to cripple a government seeking to make some rather revolutionary changes.

Back in 00

The year was 2000, the season was spring, and the journey was from Marseille, France (my place of residence at the time) to Amsterdam, NL to visit the D-Rock. (as he was residing in the dam then) It was pretty luxurious for a student, TGV to Lille, Eurostar to Brussels (stopover to see family), and this same international train to Amsterdam. It was a long and wonderous journey filled with plenty of young, worldy, and often good-looking backpackers to befriend.

I mention this because its been 5 years and I still feel that journey in my bones. Those backpackers are still on the train. Speaking their spanish or italian or australian english. I even noticed an Indonesian family doing some backpacking today. I glance over at them often and when its not too creepy, I offer help in the form of directions. They’re defensive but thankful, of course, as right they should be — lots of psychos with blogs out there.

Its crazy to think of myself now, an amsterdammer of about 3 years, to then – when all I wanted to do was visit my friend for a few days and head back to France. Little did I know. Little do we ever know the odd paths we later take.

Other news: Tim and his Radio Clash are in Spin Magazine. While xtx and her infamous cleavage are having a birthday! Oh and I mustn’t forget another birthday girl — FashionSloerie.

Look I’m Belgian

Greetings from THE Belgium my friends. Brussels, to be more specific. After going more than six months without seeing a family member in the flesh, I’m here visiting my wonderful cousins, playing with obscenely energetic children, and doing a bit of tourism, despite the fact that I’ve made this trip countless times.

If you’re thinking of coming to THE Europe, and perhaps starting in the dam, Brussels is only a three hour local train ride away. Or you can be posh and ride the Thalys. When I grow up, I’m going to ride the thalys. I know.. its posh.. but man.. its so nice.

Travelling has taken on a new meaning to me in the last year, mostly for one reason: podcasting. On my train ride down here, while staring out at Antwerp and Rotterdam and the piles of cow staring back at me, I listened to podcasts from around the world. An Australian journalist talked with Brasilians in the favelas about president Lula. Dr. Lesbian called random podcasters and discussed the concept of being “family safe”. And my personal fav on this trip, PW Fenton spoke of his life epiphony. Listening to that Billy Joel while staring out over neverending green fields was delicious.

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50th Show! From London to DC with our Washington insider D-Rock

AudioCommunique #50(mp3)
44min+, 64kbps, 20Mb+ (longer then normal, as it’s a special occasion)

You’ll probably be offended as I lay out my opinions on the London bombings
George Galloway says it better
Direct from DC, D-Rock reports on terrorism, drugs, Uzbekistan and the Conan OBrien show.
Audio Cograds from: The Mindcaster and Tokyo Calling
Further thank you’s to my first podcasts from way back: Loft405, Dawn and Drew, and Viva Podcast (links in the left column)