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This video entry is to explain some recent goings-on as well as tell about a good friend who gave up growing a green lawn in suburbia. Around the same time he was telling me this, I had also visited the Jersey shore where there were reports of an dangerous explosion in the Jelly Fish population. The causes? Nitrogen from all the fertilizers people use on their lawns that washes into the ocean. Another cause, warm water from the Oyster Bay nuclear power plant nearby. My focus here is more on the fertilizer and energy wasted on lawn care versus the price we pay collectively for the damage done to the environment.  This situation was very well illustrated by a recent edition of On Point from NPR.  Wherever you live, I encourage you to stop watering the lawn, stop fertilizing, take a stand in your everyday life and change this rediculous and dangerous suburban tradition. Download Podcast Video

Im still getting over jetlag and settling in here in the US. In the meantime here is a video entry recorded in Cambodia last month. It features my visit to the killing fields and the s21 torture prison. Download Podcast Video

The cityfarmer project in Vancouver began as a small group of people concerned with energy costs and reducing waste. 30 years later, those concerns have been amplified throughout the world, and cityfarmer is still there in the trenches. My guest, Michael Levenston, executive direction of cityfarmer, has been there since the beginning; in this interview we talk about how it developed. Besides the link above, further info and resources are available on cityfarmer.org We Discuss: Starting it in 1978 The concerns at that time Early source of funding Profile of who is involved The backyard Reducing waste Energy Global urban farming Being on the front page and more Music: Aqueduct - The Suggestion Box Eddie Vedder - Long Nights Download Standard Podcast

He walked around with a recorder in a little sidebag, recording the sounds of everything. Kids in the playground, a conversation with a taxi driver, personal life histories the list goes on and on.  He also contacted other audio recorders in his day, people who had bought the same recorder, and would send them his audio by post all over the world. Tony Schwartz was a podcaster before there was internet.. before there was podcast.  He understood the value of everything, and dedicated his time and energy to capturing audio glimpses of everything around him, and sharing them with complete strangers or friends alike. Up until a week ago, i didn t know who Tony Schwartz was.  Now, I think of him as an audio idol, with a style and a mission that I can relate to and hope in some way to be emulating.  No I don t record the sounds of everything, but Tony s spirit and drive, I feel a lot of that with what I do here on this blog. To hear about Tony Shwartz s life and also hear his beautiful audio recordings, i recommend two podcasts this week: 1 - On the Media dedicates much of their latest program to his story. If you like what I do, I think you may love what he did. 2 - My friend Chris Lydon over at Radio Open Source, sat down with a documentary film maker who s film Guerilla Media, is all about Tony. High recommended listening. As for Tony Schwartz, my new audio idol, I ll be shopping around for his work and soaking it in.  I may not have known him or known about him when he was alive, but I ll sing his praises from now on whenever someone brings up the sounds of life.

There is more to urban farming than just growing crops on empty lots in cities. In fact, there is a type of urban farming that involves growing alot more food in tall buildings, making use of the latest innovations of crop growing and energy usage. My guest, Professor Dickson Despommier of Columbia Universty explains what vertical farming is why it is so important for the future of human existance. The site for all information on Vertical Farming We Discuss: Types of crops that can be grown in vertical farms Where would they be located The costs The end of flood or disease damage Growing seasons in vertical farming Funding and who is interested Power and outside needs Problem with regular urban farming Music: Tom Waits - Lost in the Harbor Okkervil River - A Hand to Take Hold of the Scene Download Standard Podcast

While many officials might be congratulating themselves for having handled the spread of HIV-AIDS in Thailand, an under reported resurgence is taking place.  My guest for this podcast, part of my series on Thailand and Cambodia, is Mai of Teen Path Thailand.  Together we talk about the situation for teenagers when it comes to sex education, AIDS awareness, and the pitfalls in how Thai society communicates with young people. Mai also explains the different avenues Path takes in order to reach teenagers around the country, using methods and tools that most relate to their lives. Path s Website (international) Teen Path Thailand s Website (in Thai) Music: Erykah Badu - The Cell Panic at the Disco - Northern Downpour Download Standard Podcast

Friends International is a very unique organization doing some very revolutionary work in an often overlooked part of the world with the most overlooked people on this planet- street children. While in Phnom Penh I stumbled upon one of their restaurants by luck and asked about doing an interview.  One day later, I was sitting down with Sébastien Marot, the international coordinator of friends international.  Following the interview, he introduced me to actress, activist and concerned citizen Leslie Hope who also sat down for a drink with me to talk about the film she had just completed about Friends entitled - What I See When I Close My Eyes.  After this surprise interview, I joined them both at the film screening and had one of the more unforgettable nights of my visit to Cambodia. I highly recommend learning about friends international Childsafe International as well as getting your hands on and passing on word about the film: What I See When I Close My Eyes Music in this episode: The Breeders - Wicked Little Town Utah Phillips - Kid s Liberation Phil Oaks - Outside of a Small Circle of Friends Download Standard Podcast

Bophana is an organization based in Phnom Penh, dedicated to finding and archiving video, audio, and text documentation of Cambodian culture.  Throughout the decades of war and the destructive Khmer Rouge regime, much of the nation s audio-visual archives were lost. But Bophana has taken on the task of gathering this material, from private individuals in the country, or institutions and film companies abroad.  I was given an informative tour and a demonstration of how the archive works, later we recorded this podcast interview. We Discuss: What is Bophana Who is behind this organization Why should Cambodia need such a place Types of activities and areas of interest Funding sources, funding problems Difficulties with finding skilled workers for this type of work Music: Apostle of Hustle - Folkloric Field Kanye West - Heard em Say Download Standard Podcast

Going back a few days, this vlog entry is from my first day in Cambodia.  It includes footage from my arrival via Tuc-Tuc, to me Royal Palace visit. On that note, I m off to the airport for the long long flight back to Amsterdam. It has been, well, overwhelming to say the least.  A fantastic experience that has left me profoundly happy and hungry for more journeys like this one. Download Podcast Video

It is not easy to go to a country like Cambodia and develop an ecotourism project that involves preserving forests while generating income. Many obstacles will appear, not to mention the amount of people who simply don t believe it can be done right.  Katie Matlack has been working on one such project, and on one recent afternoon we sat together in a park in Bangkok, to discuss that project. We discuss: Wildlife Alliance Cambodia, the situation How the project works Downside to ecotourism Green Architecture Funding and progress And more Music: Elvis- Crawfish LCD Soundsystem - Watch the Tapes Download Standard Podcast

Alternative media is alive and well in Thailand, especially at the offices of Prachatai.com.  I spent the morning with the staff of this Thai alternative news source discussing what the big issues are for Thailand and their experience running such a media organization. We discuss: The overall media landscape in Thailand Government control, economic influence MY experience with the Royal Anthem Censorship The constitution Labor and Unions Environmentalism in Thailand Funding Music: Eddie Vedder - Rise Herbie Hancock - Tea Leaf Prophecy Download Standard Podcast

It is never easy to pull out a camera and record a message while sitting alone in public.  It is even harder when you re alone, wastern, and tall, sitting in a park talking into a camera in your left hand.  The following vlog entry is about my initial impressions after wandering slightly lost near the victory monument and chatachuk market areas of Bangkok. Download Podcast Video

Besides working, I m more of a tourist than a journalist these days, and I ll try to do something about that immediately.  There is a vlog entry coming up when I wake. For now I pass you this flickr video clip of how I spent much of my day today, walking the norrow aisles of the Chatuchak Weekend Market, a very large and impressive maze of merchants and people alike. PS - To anyone who sent the link, emailed, or worried about my presence at the demonstrations today in Bangkok, you might be relieved to know that I got lost and never arrived where I had hoped to arrive to observe the demonstrations.  If I get another chance I will try again, and I will approach with caution so worry not!

Paula and Martin run a unique Urban Farm in Victoria, B.C., Canada. They don t just manage one plot of land, their farm is scattered throughout various areas and its getting more and more popular.  In this interview Paula explains how it got started, their specific method of farming, and the growing popularity in their community and beyond. Cityharvest Spin Farming Music: Roots -Rising Down Mercedes Sosa - Es Sud America Mi Voz Note: Im posting this podcast just as I leave for the airport en route to Thailand, so any errors or further details, will have to wait. Download Standard Podcast

Plotting my upcoming journey, Im looking at a map of Thailand, seeking the cities or towns that I will want to visit in my short time there.  Among other places, the Burmese border has my interest.  The internets tell me that I could normally take a day trip from one of these border locations, into Burma for a quick look around.  As a person who is critical of the government there, and concerned for the state of its people, naturally I m interested. Meanwhile I m listening to radio netherlands The State We re In, and my friend Jonathan is talking about Burma and the aftermath of the terrible Cyclone Nargis. The theory they re discussing, as millions of people have been affected by the aftermath of the storm, is that it is the responsibility of UN members to provide aid to victims.  Furthermore, according to his guest - Jan Egeland (former relief coordinator of the UN) the Burmese junta does not have the right to block aid or decide if people can be helped or not. On the one hand Im thinking about how it may not be possible to get into Burma with all this going on. And more importantly, on the other hand, I m listening to Egeland and I m thinking about the fact that there are governments who actively block their people from getting essential help after a disaster. Like when the US rejected doctors from Cuba and food from the EU, after hurricane Katrina.  Or when China says no to foreign aid workers on their soil (but yes accepts money and other donations).  Yet on the same hand we live in an era where military forces are used to change governments and bring what is referred to as freedom and democracy by force. It is seen by many as a legitimate way to do things. Imagine they felt the same way about aid?  Wouldn t it be something to behold, a NATO force that feels so strongly about feeding starving victims of a hurricane or US marines pulling out buried people after an earthquake. And even if a government told them no, imagine they would still arrive, in an organized and determined fashion, in numbers and efficiency that the government could do very little to stop.  Militant relief, there s a doctrine for a future president or prime minister.

Occasionally I like to share some useful knowledge I believe I have on how to use the internet in a way that allows you to get information and some degree of satisfication. This vlog entry is about the social networking site facebook; specifically - how to cut right through the crap, once and for all, and make use of the very handy and sometimes rewarding tools the system has (buried) for you. Download Podcast Video

While many focus on the global food price and the fate of food exports, in many places around the world, groups of people are growing and selling food locally.  Mill Creek urban farm in Philadelphia is one of these places. My guests, farm founders Jade and Johanna explain how Mill Creek works, and how they relate to their community, the city, and even the global picture. They also recommended the following article about small farmers and their role in feeding the world. We Discuss: - The activities of the farm - Relations with the community - Funding of the project - Reflection on the global food crisis - Changes in demand and interest in Urban Farming over the past years - Access to green spaces in cities - Gentrification and the survival of the urban farm - Other forms of Urban agriculture Music: Pinback - Blue Harvest The Roots - Criminal (feat. Truck North & Saigon) Download Standard Podcast

Soy is often looked at as the alternative bean, beloved ingredient for vegetarians and concerned citizens worldwide. Yet what do we know about the soy industry? How is soy being produced, by who, for who, and to what effect? My guest, Nina Holland of the Corporate European Observatory, sat down with me to explain how it all works, and what we should know about our soy. Discussed: Soy as food/feed/fuel Genetically Modified Soy Who Owns the Farms Situations in different parts of South America Comparison to Europe GM Soy Lobby in the EU Labeling So-called responsible soy Independent farmers Solutions/Advice for People Links: ASeed.net corporateeurope.org The Report on Responsible Soy put out, co-authored by Nina Music: Vinicious Cantuaria - Corre Campo Tom Brosseau - In My Time of Dyin Download Standard Podcast

Following the recent podcast on licences, filesharing, and the pirate bay, I received alot of strong feedback with both opinions that were similar and also very different from those that Peter brought forth.  This podcast features musician and podcaster Michael Harren aka Mikeypod, who talks about things like licenses and artist rights according to his experience and opinions. We Discuss: Creative Commons The Artist s Choice and Empowerment Money, making it, deserving it, expecting it Filesharing in terms of music Arists Using CC Music: Lou Rhodes - Greatness in a Speck of Dust Spreepark - A Trampoline I am Not Download Standard Podcast

The 25 of April is a very special day. As per tradition, here s a video blog entry paying tribute to 25 de Abril in Portugal. Download Podcast Video

The German minister who famously believes in law and order and high security and knowing as much about citizens as possible, has now - himself- been fingerprinted. Whats more, the fingerprints are being distributed all over the world as part of a very strong statement and critique of what is supposed to be such a safe and secure method of identification. This podcast is recorded at the CCCB in Berlin, and it features the participation of some very kind and socially conscious hackers. As we sat around assembling the magazines, finger prints and all, I took out the recorder and asked them to explain how it is they got hold of the German interior minister s finger prints and what the larger meaning of this action, will be. By the end of the recording they realized we hadn t spoken in detail about many of the OTHER examples of what the German government is trying to do when it comes to data retention and privacy. Below is a list of links they recommended I include for better details about what is going on. EU-Wide implementation of the data retention German minister defends Trojan horse spy tactic as needed to fight terror Schäuble: Facts Obtained Through Torture Should be Used Oh and as a bonus, the Finger Print story in Wired. Music: Tom Waits - Everything You Can Think Utah Phillips - All Used Up Download Standard Podcast

During my recent visit to Berlin, BaghdadBrian and I visited the stasimuseum and recording this videoblog entry. It also features the most excellent tour guide who not only gave tremendous insight into what life was like in the GDR and the activities of the Stasi, but also gave these great personal stories of how she felt and what she remembers. Oh and here s the museum website. Download Podcast Video

As the producer of one of the best information sources coming out of Iraq, BaghdadBrian is passionate about raising awareness about what life is really like for regular Iraqi s living under occupation. While attending the Republica Conference last week, he and I had a chance to walk around Berlin and even do some tourism. Just as you ll hear us comparing in this podcast, we often found ourselves comparing the divided post war Germany days to the situation in Iraq today.. specifically when it comes to dividing a city with walls. His site: Alive in Baghdad The Stasi Headquarters Museum Alive in Mexico Music: Henri DiKongué - Wen Te Mba Wenge Stars - In Our Bedroom After the War Download Standard Podcast

In some parts of the world people still use the term steal to describe getting music through bittorent or other systems. At the same time, many people use the term filesharing or downloading to describe that same process. Laws might get passed and moral judgements might be imposed, but how logical are such views when it comes to the sharing or copying of digital material. My guest today is Peter of the Pirate Bay, one of the most popular sites on the internet, period. Moreover, someone who has a strong commitment to struggle and educate people when it comes to the nature of filesharing. Looking beyond scare tactics and the manipulation of governments by large corporate interests, Peter has alot to say when it comes to how we think or could think about the world reknowned practice of downloading things from the internet. I also recommend the most recent Yeast Radio, which features Peter in a debate on intellectual property. And a previous edition of Chaos Radio International which provides alot of essential information about pirate bay, why and how it does what it does. Music: Common - They Say Rilo Kiley - Breakin Up Tags: copyright, culture, downloading, filesharing, language, sweden, thepiratebayShare This

My presentation about the problems facing citizen journalists and citizen journalism today. PArt of my talk given at Re:publica 08 here in Berlin. Lots of podcasts being prepared as part of this event, and later I might have video. For now as I continue visiting with my favorite citizens of Berlin, I give you my brief presentation (minus the Wire clip about doing more with less.) | View | Upload your own Tags: berlin, citizenjournalism, massmedia, personalpublishing, podcasting, re:publica08, republica08Share This

I started reading blogs back in 2002 I think. At least thats the year I remember I started reading what seemed to be blogs at the time, people like Camworld and Rebecca Blood.  Haven t said those names in years.  Around that same time, I believe I started reading Press Think Jay Rosen. Rosen focused his writing on the media, and how the media was or was not adjusting to the world of not only the internet, but the world of personal publishing and what today gets that annoying cliché label web2.0.  As a young fledgling journalist and internet publisher, I liked what he had to say sometimes, and disagreed with him vehemently other times.  At some point, after 2 good years or more, I think I stopped reading him altogether.  But sure enough his name would once again come up in my masters thesis research on the sociology of alternative journalists why they do what they do and what do they think of their own work; Jay Rosen s What are Journalists For  was at the top of my reading list. Jay Rosen Perhaps one of my big problems with Rosen, that would often cause me to stop reading him for a period of time (I needed a break apparently) was that he was so focused on the mainstream. I can appreciate the unique and important contribution of mainstream media at times, as well as a few mainstream type bloggers.. often referred to as the A list for their dominance in terms of audience and the nature of their fairly conventional issue selection.  I felt, as I still feel, that the world of alternative reporting, alternative in style, values, topic, and operational norms, was where the real change making, system challenging journalism was going to come from. As it so often did in the hayday of the Village Voice, The Nation and others. (very American centric today, hang with me) So when I heard that Jay Rosen was a guest on Radio Open Source, I knew there would be alot of talk of those same old blog names, the ones that cover the same topics as the major media; I can easily count those tired old names on one hand.  And I admit, I didn t want to like the interview. But the truth is, now more than ever, Rosen has seen the evolution of all this and been in the blog trenches since early on.  He may not say everything that I like or talk about all the issues I want him to, but this interview that Chris did with him, is excellent. From what is happening and will happen to newspapers, to why certain big blogs had success and what makes them so great Jay is great to listen to. As I board my train to Berlin in a few hours, preparing my talk for the Re:publica conference, I strongly recommend you give this interview a listen if you re at all concerned about how we get our information online, and just what is happening to blogs and our relationships with them. Tags: blogs, jayrosen, media, radioopensource, termsofauthority, whatarejournalistsforShare This

Last week Wikileaks was talked about in alot of media outlets, but not for exposing some crime or wrong doing, but because a judge ordered the site taken down. In this vlog entry I talk about that story as well as what makes wikileaks special and other stories the site has helped expose. I refer to a Guardian Article and a Christian Science Monitor article, both related to wikileaks. Tags: corporatecrime, corruption, media, sources, whistleblowers, wikileaksShare This

This week, as I continue to suffer under the oppression of Dutch internet providers and the demands of my new employment, I bring you a lost episode of this podcast. Recorded the first day of 2008, this is Emmanuel Goldstein of 2600, his radio work as well as 2600 have long been an inspiration and a huge influence on the kind of journalist that I strive to be. This is a brief conversation we recorded on a train platform at Alexanderplatz in Berlin. Most importantly, we talk about The Last Hope, the big hacker meeting in NYC this July (no I wont be there)In addition we mention: The arctic and the political battle for control of it The CCC and experiences at the congress Public transport in Berlin and more Music: Dialated Peoples - Kindness for Weakness The Shins - Sleeping Lessons Tags: 24c3, 2600, arcticcoldwar, berlin, emmanuelgoldstein, hacking, thelasthopeShare This

Greetings from Paris. The following video entry was put together to direct more attention to the extremely important gathering a few weeks ago in the US called Winter Soldier. It was organized by the Iraq Veterans Against the War organization and the stories you will hear the testimony.. well.. every citizen should have to listen and relisten whenever they start to think that war is ever an option or an answer. Video excerpt is from democracynow and ivaw Tags: afghanistan, democrarynow, iraq, ivaw, semanal08, semanalweek12, wintersoldierShare This

Im a news hound. Especially for certain topics, certain parts of the world, or certain journalists . I virtually clip tons of things on the average day. Lately one of the frequent topics that I ve paid extra attention to, is Cuba. Pesos Surely Im not alone, but unlike people who are only hoping for a collapse of the political system there, I m more interested to hear about people s experiences, and learn about the different layers that make up today s Cuba. One of my favorite sources, who s podcast interviews lately have me rewinding and listening twice or three times even, just to hear the details again, is RadioOpen Source. Chris has been speaking with different people with very different connections with Cuba, and it has made for some educational and eye opening audio. The first guest was Patrick Symmes. I love this author for a book that mr. D-Rock gave me many years ago, Chasing Ché. Well, he s been working on a book about Cubans and Cuba and spending alot of time there, he has some very interesting things to share from those adventures. The second is a man by the name of Adrian Lopez Denis, a social historian and son of a Cuban doctor, who s descriptions of Cuba dispel alot of the stories we ve always heard. He also points out the very symbolic fact that while after his death, big news magazines used images of cigars to represent Fidel, the man had actually quit smoking 40 years ago. But beyond that he uncovers alot of facts about culture and society that are really worth listening to. And while all this is going on, I ve been amazed to watch my blogger friend Alexis Oriol, go from being a doctor for the Cuban medical corps in East Timor, to being a refugee without a country, to being a new resident of Miami. An unbelievable turn of events that has me asking out loud sometimes, did this really happen . But the answer is yes, and if you read spanish at all, I recommend reading through the blog. OR you can wait a few months because Alexis is sure to become an english language blogger and more American than most Americans (like me, for example) Tags: adrianlopezdenis, cuba, eldiariodelaresistencia, patricksymmes, radioopensourceShare This