Apropos of Everything: Reviews the “coming of age” of Democracy Now from their book, The Exceptions to the Rulers. Examines how one person’s journalist-with-integrity is another person’s hostile crank. Discusses Christian Parenti’s response, called “Free the Truth,” to Kevin Bales, founder of Free the Slaves, who claimed that child slavery in cocoa has been eradicated. Delves into child labor in Uzbekistan cotton, linking an article pro and a video against. Reviews a new book by Tracy Kidder called Strength in What Remains. Asks whether the international development aid that antagonized the Hutu-Tutsi relationship was “unwitting.” Consults Brian Eno’s Oblique Strategies for advice on life after FRSC.
Poems:
- Samuel Hazo, ”Seesaws”
- Ranier Marie Rilke, ”You Are the Future”
Songs and/or Music Videos:
- Trilok Gurtu, ”Dea”
- Michael Franti and Spearhead, ”Sometimes”
- Michael Franti and Spearhead, ”Nobody Right, Nobody Wrong”
Informational Videos:
- AlJazeera English, “Changing Channels”
- White Gold: Cotton in Uzbekistan
Tags: AlJazeera English, Amy Goodman, Brian Eno, child slaves, Christian Parenti, cocoa, cotton, Democracy Now, Kevin Bales, Michael Franti, Oblique Strategies, Ranier Marie Rilke, Samuel Hazo, Tracy Kidder, Trilok Gurtu, Uzbekistan, White Gold
Posted in Africa, Child Labor, Foreign Aid, Media | No Comments »
Sovereignty: Presents Wikipedia’s imperialist definition of sovereignty. Quotes David Cobb and David Korten on the current disaster of corporate sovereignty. Questions whether the state and federal government can both be simultaneously sovereign. Defines the key to sovereignty as the right to do no wrong. Discusses a plan for a confederacy of counties and an incremental Jubilee through gradual relocalization of taxes. Prioritizes use of reclaimed taxes to fund the right to do no harm and to restore foreign communities that we’ve deprived of their sovereignty. Also talks about roosters that find their crow and the need for an Urban Slaughter Support Group.
Poems:
- Yuan Mei, “Writing What I’ve Seen”
- Thomas Centolella, “Veiw #45”
Songs and/or Music Videos:
- Bobby Torres Ensemble, “On Burnside”
- Chris Pierce, “Keep On Keeping On,” concert video
- Derby, “If Ever There’s a Reason,” super-cute video
Audio Bonus:
- Interview with Scott James, founder of Fair Trade Sports, who talks about child labor in sports balls and his Newmanesque business model that donates all profits to charities.
Tags: Bobby Torres Ensemble, Chris Pierce, confederacy of counties, David Cobb, David Korten, Derby, Fair Trade Sports, incremental Jubilee, Scott James, Sovereignty, tax relocalization, Thomas Centolella, urban slaughter support group, Yuan Mei
Posted in Child Labor, Food, Sovereignty | No Comments »
