Topic: Class

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[ Episode #30 // Austerity + Hope ]

Dec 2 2011

Mini Episode

Through the transfer of private debt to balance sheets of governments around the world, we've entered an age of austerity where citizens are experiencing drastic cuts to basic necessities. Civil unrest has resulted from people demanding that corporate greed should be punished instead of individuals. As the Occupy movement reaches a transition point, have we witnessed the spark of global anti-captialist movement or has it just been a brief glimpse of the anger developed from decades of economic injustice? Are there true reasons for hope with an increasing number of youth facing diminished opportunities for participating in the promises that capitalist markets once offered? Is this truly a turning point in history? If so, what does it mean to live in the midst of a global revolution?

In Extraenvironmentalist #30 we speak with David McNally about themes from his book Global Slump: The Economics and Politics of Crisis and Resistance, that draw on examples of successful populist uprisings around the world to demonstrate that in the Western world we too have options for resisting the tyranny of an age of austerity. We discuss the natural evolution of the Occupy movement and the potential to ensure that the movement grows while keeping food on the table and meaningful work available for the unemployed. Have elites secretly been preparing for unrest as they use taxpayers to bail out an unsustainable industry built on the pipe dream of perpetual growth? Are youth willing to accept their role as movement builders instead of iPhone owners?


 

 

// Music (in order of appearance)
Pretty Lights - Finally Moving via Et Musique Pour Tous
Hezekiah Jenkins - The Panic is On  via Ghostcapital
Makana - We Are The Many
Connor Youngblood - Will You Be There (Michael Jackson Cover) via Pigeons and Planes
Aarab Muzik - Let it Go via SkeetBeatz

// Extended Clips (in order of appearance)
America's New Poor Fending for Food Stamps
 Doug Stanhope - Fear in the US News Media
 Steve Keen on BBC Hardtalk
 WBEZ on Oligarchy: How the Super Rich Defend Their Wealth
 Public Sector Workers Strike in the UK

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[ Episode #29 // Creating Wealth ]

Nov 22 2011

Mini Episode

Occupy Wall Street has directed our attention to the extreme concentration of wealth resulting from decades of policy designed to trickle down prosperity. Through using a single type of bank debt currency, we allocate our labor and resources to benefit a global elite instead of our communities. Can we engage our local leaders and municipal governments to break this currency monoculture? Can global examples of currency ecology provide a map for improving educational experiences, enhancing the arts and building resilience to the fragility of central bank finance mechanisms?

In Extraenvironmentalist #29 we speak with Gwendolyn Hallsmith and Bernard Lietaer about Creating Wealth: Growing Local Economies with Local Currencies, their recent book on how to implement complimentary currency systems while creating intentional cities with money ecosystems. We cover examples of complimentary currencies in Brazil (saber), the United States (time banking), Switzerland (WIR), Belgium, Lithuania and Uruguay (C3) to demonstrate how alternative forms of money can help to enhance our education, business and sense of community. Could the WIR be the reason for Switzerland's stability? Are there ways to retool education funding that could help us realize our dreams?

Note: Justin's poor understanding of French led to him mis-speaking Bernard's last name, it should be said Liet-ya instead of Liet-air


 

// Music (in order of appearance)
John Lee Hooker - (Money) That's What I Want
The J's - The Sound of Money via WFMU's Beware of the Blog
Sharon Jones - Money via This is Real Music
The Drums - Money (Chad Valley Remix) via Niteversions
Mr. Little Jeans - The Suburbs (Cry Wolf Remix) via The Music Ninja

// Extended Clips (in order of appearance)
Debt Diets and Riots: Euro Lose Lose via RT
Greeks Abandon Cash Resort to Bartering via RT
Annie Leonard - Story of Broke
Enslaved to banks US students drawn to join Occupy
Chris Hedges Speaking at OWS

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[ Episode #7 // When Two Worlds Collide ]

Nov 26 2010

Mini Episode

Living in a western media bubble we receive every story through a prism of corporate and political control which bends a complex and multifaceted light into a monochromatic blur. When oil and multinational energy interests collide with the mode of sustainable living practiced by Amazonian tribes for generations, a cascading series of events has encapsulated this complex set of interactions as a microcosm of the global struggle we all face.

In Extraenvironmentalist #7 we uncover the tale of Heidi Brandenburg and Taira Akbar of Yachaywasi Films about their upcoming documentary, When Two Worlds Collide. Heidi and Taira are in Lima with their colleague Mathew Orzel covering the transfer of Amazonian Rainforest into the hands of energy and mining companies that act on behalf of our lifestyle. A massive commodifcation of Amazonian ancestral lands into a global market. Today's story has it all: oil, international trade relations, corporate subjugation of the indigenous, amazonian shamanism and most of all the will of one man, Alberto Pizango as he stands against the Peruvian Government and the many competing interests to deliver the will of his people. Alberto's struggle is one to preserve the sustenance that will ensure our species' survival throughout the future.

Please ensure that this story is told around the world! Support Heidi, Taira and the rest of the Yachaywasi team by visiting their IndieGoGo page and making a contribution. Additionally, Seth and I think you should strongly consider sharing this episode with your family and friends.

You can follow more on this story through the regular media outlets as Alberto Pizango was recently interviewed by the BBC and stories of his 2011 run for the Peruvian Presidency are hitting the news wires.

 

//Supplemental Links
IndieGoGo | Support When Two Worlds Collide
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Facebook | When Two Worlds Collide
Website | Yachaywasi Films

// Music (in order of appearance)
CFCF - Before and After Light via The Music Ninja
Ingrid Michaelson - Creep (Radiohead Cover) via IndieShuffle
Atmosphere - The Best Day via The Music Ninja
Boy and Bear - Mexican Mavis via IndieShuffle
Gypsy and the Cat - Time to Wander via IndieShuffle

When Two Worlds Collide (1-minute trailer) from Yachaywasi Films on Vimeo.

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[ Episode #2 // Powerful Plastic ]

Aug 31 2010

Mini Episode

We are surrounded by a media maelstrom on a daily basis and every so often that tornado of music and language coalesces into something that inflicts a bewildering inspiration.

This podcast is about enlightened entertainment and that's what The Extraenvironmentalist #2 delivers. Sure, it might be a little all over the place, but isn't everyone?

As the plastic bag journeys to it's natural habitat, we discuss America's class system and read from Tim-Wallace Murphy's book on the history of the western esoteric tradition on ways in which alternative viewpoints on Christianity were extinguished in the Dark Ages.

So while in the future we'll focus in on particular topics a little more, this week's theme is: stuff we found interesting.

 

// Media Links
Youtube | The Majestic Plastic Bag
 Podcast | CBC Ideas - The Charming Mr. Luttwak
Blog | Understanding America's Class System by Joe Bageant
TV | BBC Unreported World - Third World America | here's a good review of it
Podcast | School Sucks #4 - Politics is Force
Podcast | Gnostic Media #88 - Silver and Gold ft. Stephen Zarlenga
Book | Hidden Wisdom by Tim-Wallace Murphy
Youtube | Sarah Silverman - Sell the Vatican Save the World
Podcast | C-Realm Podcast #220 - Red State Blues ft. Daniel Krotz
Podcast | Common Sense with Dan Carlin #164 - The People's Snitch
Podcast | Diet Soap #71 - Dolls Eyes In the Supercenter ft. Jason Rizos

// Music (in order of appearance)
Blue Hawaii - Blue Gowns via Et Musique Pour Tous
Florence and the Machines - Cosmic Love (Short Club Remix) via Et Musique Pour Tous
Ting Tings - Hands (Retro/Grade Remix) via Audioporn Central
Freelance Whales - Generator Second Floor via HearYa
The Temper Trap - Fader (The Knocks Remix ft. Samuel) via Wongie's Music World
OMD - If Yout Want It Villa Nah Remix via Audioporn Central

// Corrections (let us know if you find the Easter eggs in every episode!)

(we haven't discovered any yet)

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