POLLAN AND MOYERS

So, I'm trying to catch up on podcasts. I'm so behind! I think there is some good stuff in this interview between Micheal Pollan and Bill Moyers.

For example, I had no idea that the United States sends Alaska salmon to China to be fileted and then it is shipped backed here... I also enjoyed greatly the uplifting piece (in the second part of the interview) where they look at a part of East Brooklyn with high diabetes, that converted an empty lot into a garden to help supply the community with fresh produce. And that a resulting farmers market distributes free food vouchers to mothers and seniors. Simple, positive, local solution.

I missed this major Micheal Pollan NYT article too. Also on my catch up list now. I think it would be a great statement if The Obama's used the White House lawn to grow food for the first family and guests!

MANUFACTURED LANDSCAPES

I've just become aware of photographer Edward Burtynsky in the last week or so.



I watched Manufactured Landscapes tonight - a movie which I would recommend. The movie touches on his experience of photographing landscapes from mines, to oil fields, to factories in China and beyond. You can see photos on his website:

http://www.edwardburtynsky.com

In the movie, the visual representation of the changes going on in China are stunning.




After Mao, about 60 years ago, China's population was 90% agrarian 10% urban. The current idea coming from Beijing is to see China's population move to 30% agrarian and 70% urban. Which when you look at 1.3 billion people, the urbanization of China is unprecedented in the world. China is experiencing the largest country-to-city migration in history. By 2050, China urban population will be the equivalent of the combined population of the North and South American continents and the entire European Union.

Wow.

And these Chinese cites are replicating 'old thinking' rather than developing a new way of thinking about urban environments.

RE-POST: VIDEO LEARNING BITES

I had a post that I deleted by accident yesterday while doing some Gigya testing. Here's what I remember of it...

- online video
- online learning via quick facts pieced together and visuals
- paper-like or unpolished look
- concise, well simplified explanations

Good Magazine: Paper or Plastic?


Common Craft: RSS


Zaproot: Pickens Plan