Special Series Videos

During the WTO protests, much attention was paid to the "teamsters and turtles" coalition, a coming-together of labor and environmental activists. What became of that coalition? Jill Friedman speaks to David Foster, executive director of the Blue Green Alliance and Dan Leahy, former director of the Alliance for Sustainable Jobs and the Environment.

The WTO protests were noticeably white, and many claimed that racism within the movement was partly to blame for that. To what extent have white activists sought to understand and address racism in the movement? In this installment of the WTO anniversary series, Jill Friedman speaks with Scott Winn, founder of the Coalition of Anti-Racist Whites, an organization that was formed after the WTO protests, in direct response to discussions about racism within the anti-globalization movement; and to Colin Rajah of the National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights and author of several articles and essays about the lack of people-of-color at the WTO protests.

After the WTO protests, a debate emerged about future strategies: Was it more effective to travel from one protest to the next, or to stay home and do grassroots organizing around the local impacts of trade agreements? Jill Friedberg speaks to activists who decided to stay local, and focus on grassroots community organizing and transforming protest politics in a wider organizing movement.

This week marks the 10 year anniversary of the protests in Seattle that took place during the World Trade Organization's meeting. The week brought together a coalition of environmentalists, labor activists and human rights groups and drew attention to the WTO's expanding influence throughout the world. It also led to new innovations in independent media and a growth in citizen journalism. In the second of a two-part series, FSRN's Jill Friedberg has more on the legacy of independent media centers, ten years later.

Today marks the 10-year anniversary of the protests in Seattle that took place during the World Trade Organization's meeting. The week brought together a coalition of environmentalists, labor activists and human rights groups and drew attention to the WTO's growing influence throughout the world. It also led to a new alternative gathering of activists, called the World Social Forum and then, the US Social Forum. In the first of a two-part series, FSRN's Jill Friedberg has more on the legacy of the protests, ten years later.

Today protesters and government forces clashed in Iran's capitol, Tehran. The day marks the 30th anniversary of the takeover of the US Embassy by radical students, which led to a 444-day hostage crisis - a key event in the Islamic revolution. But this year's anniversary is unlike any other before. Since June's disputed presidential election, a reform movement in Iran has been growing. Protesters gathered in the streets today in defiance of warnings from the government of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. read more

I ve had the privilege of interviewing authors, illustrators and book people of all walks of life and spanning both ends of careers.  Today, I break new ground for me as I interview a six year-old who s not my own daughter. Lily was five when she submitted an illustration to our Love of Reading Gallery, making her the youngest contributor to our collection of art.  She never named her piece so I ve called it Books and Friends.  On this edition, I speak with blogger and budding author/illustrator, Lily, about her illustration, the tools she uses and the projects she s working on. Listen to interviews with other members of Lily s family: Author/illustrator, Aaron Zenz Gracie Isaac Be sure to enjoy all of the amazing artwork in our Love of Reading Gallery.

We opened our Love of Reading Gallery in July 2008 and invited all illustrators to submit original artwork that promotes a love of reading.  Submissions spanned the globe including Venezuela and Romania and covered all age ranges. On this edition, Mark speaks with artist, blogger and budding author, Isaac, now 10 (he was 9 when he created his illustration) about Bedtime Snack, his contribution to our Love of Reading Gallery and a book he s creating with his father, author/illustrator Aaron Zenz. Be sure to enjoy all of the amazing artwork in our Love of Reading Gallery.

We opened our Love of Reading Gallery in July 2008 and invited all illustrators to submit original artwork that promotes a love of reading.  Submissions came from as far as Brazil, Vietnam and South Africa and covered all age ranges. On this edition, Mark speaks with artist and budding author, Gracie, now 8 (she was 7 when she created her illustration) about Love for Reading, her contribution to our Love of Reading Gallery, her illustration technique and a book idea she has. Be sure to enjoy all of the amazing artwork in our Love of Reading Gallery. Did you notice Gracie s reference to The HICCUPotamus?

As part of the second anniversary celebrations of the Just One More Book!! children’s book podcast, we invited illustrators to submit artwork that promotes a love of reading. Now, well into our fourth year, we’re still conducting short interviews with contributors to our Love of Reading Gallery. On this edition, Mark speaks with author/artist Aaron Zenz (on JOMB) about The Big One (his contribution to our Love of Reading Gallery), reading with his children and pencil technique. Be sure to enjoy all of the amazing artwork in our Love of Reading Gallery.

As we find ourselves soldiering into our fourth year of Just One More Book!!, we re still catching up on interviews with illustrators that contributed original work to our Love of Reading Gallery as part of our second anniversary celebrations.  Yes, we’re a little behind. On this edition of Just One More Book!!, Mark speaks with illustrator Patricia Storms about her contribution  All the Hep Cats are Reading and how cats and books go well together, some of her favourite children s book authors and re-illustrating a book by Maurice Sendak. Be sure to enjoy all of the amazing artwork in our Love of Reading Gallery.

As we find ourselves soldiering into our fourth year of Just One More Book!!, we remain in the process of catching up on interviews with illustrators that contributed original work to our Love of Reading Gallery part of our second anniversary celebrations.  Yes, we re a little behind. On this edition of Just One More Book!!, Mark speaks with designer and children s book illustrator hopeful Candace Trew Camling about her contribution titled Bookworm, still reading children s books at age 25 and the genius of Adam Rex. Be sure to enjoy all of the amazing artwork in our Love of Reading Gallery.

As part of the second anniversary celebrations of the Just One More Book!! children’s book podcast, we invited illustrators to submit artwork that promotes a love of reading. Now, as we head towards our third anniversary, we’re in the process of catching up on our series of short interviews with each of 51 contributors to our Love of Reading Gallery. On this edition, Mark speaks with author/artist Hélène Boudreau about her contribution called Story Time, the complex art of story telling through illustration and the difference and similarities between her own childhood experiences with books and the experiences of her own daughters . Be sure to enjoy all of the amazing artwork in our Love of Reading Gallery.

You meet a lot of talented people in the podcast community.  Daniele Rossi, illustrator and producer of the Stuttering is Cool podcast, is a perfect example.  We became good friends after meeting at the Podcasters Across Borders conference in 2007 and that led him to respond to our open invitation for illustrators and artists to contribute to our Love of Reading Gallery. Incidentally, Daniele is part of the speaking program at this year s PAB09 event, taking place in Kingston, Canada from June 19-21. During a recent trip to Toronto, Mark spoke with Daniele about his contribution to our Love of Reading Gallery, Now This One, digital sketchbooks and the beauty of seeing eraser marks on real paper. Related links: Daniele Rossi s website Daniele s Stuttering is Cool Podcast The Pen is Mightier than the Plug-in? interview of Daniele on On the Log New Yorker Cover Story: Finger Painting Podcasters Across Borders conference Be sure to enjoy all of the amazing artwork in our Love of Reading Gallery.

As part of the second anniversary celebrations of the Just One More Book!! children’s book podcast, we invited illustrators to submit artwork that promotes a love of reading. Now, as we head towards our third anniversary, we re in the process of catching up on our series of short interviews with each of 51 contributors to our Love of Reading Gallery. On this edition, Mark speaks with illustrator Roberta Baird about her contribution called Book Talk, the convergence of traditional and digital illustration, and her hope to one day write and illustrate her own children s book. Be sure to enjoy all of the amazing artwork in our Love of Reading Gallery.

As part of the second anniversary celebrations of the Just One More Book!! children’s book podcast, we invited illustrators to submit artwork that promotes a love of reading.  We are now catching on our series of short interviews with each of 51 contributors to our Love of Reading Gallery. On this edition, Mark speaks with illustrator Katie Davis about her contribution called Get Into Books and not being able to time travel. Be sure to enjoy all of the amazing artwork in our Love of Reading Gallery.

Click here to view the embedded video. The drive home from Northampton was the longest eight hours of our lives not because of the weather (we experienced sun, clouds and a spectacular if short snow storm) or the traffic (there wasn t much) but because of the amazing memories that we collected and friends we made and how we seemed to be going further away from both.  Fortunately, those friendship remain and the memories are still with us; they have helped shape the way we enjoy and understand children s books. In this final installment of the Rock Stars of Reading we reflect on the what we experienced and consider the impact those experiences will have on us. MUSIC Theme: Woolly Mammoth by Robert Farrell (from Sun House Fury, part 1) Afternoon in the Sun by John Williams (from Long Ride Home) found on Magnatune

Click here to view the embedded video. It s customary for interviewers to ask authors and illustrators to share their advice for aspiring book creators. During the 19th Annual Children s Illustration Show at the R. Michelson Gallery, Mark instead asked authors and illustrators to offer advice for aspiring readers. Everyone was willing to pitch in. This video features responses from Jeanne Birdsall, Diane de Groat, Tony DiTerlizzi, Jane Dyer, Paul Jacobs, Norton Juster, Jarrett Krosoczka, Jeff Mack, David Mazor, David Milgrim, Barry Moser, Lesléa Newman, Shelley Rotner, Ruth Sanderson, Heidi Stemple, Mo Willems and Jane Yolen. Also included is an interview with David Mazor, Founder and Executive Director of Reader to Reader a non-profit organization that distributes books to schools and libraries in need. Reader to Reader honoured author Norton Juster for his generosity and passion in promoting literacy. MUSIC Theme: Woolly Mammoth by Robert Farrell (from Sun House Fury, part 1) Timber and Wood by Xavier Rudd (from To Let), used with permission