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  <title>sustainable living</title>
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  <updated>2010-07-13T03:57:54+01:00</updated>
  <entry>
    <title>Window Farms</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.aliak.com/content/window-farms" />
    <id>http://www.aliak.com/content/window-farms</id>
    <published>2009-07-16T08:38:54+01:00</published>
    <updated>2009-07-16T08:39:46+01:00</updated>
    <author>
      <name>AliaK</name>
    </author>
    <category term="design" />
    <category term="environment" />
    <category term="internet" />
    <category term="social change" />
    <category term="sustainable living" />
    <summary type="html"><![CDATA[<p><img src="http://brittaandrebecca.org/images/windowfarm.jpg" align="left" hspace="20" />  <a href="http://windowfarms.org" rel="nofollow" rel="nofollow">window farms</a> are vertical, hydroponic, modular, low-energy, high-yield edible window gardens built using low-impact or recycled local materials. The goal of the project is to create a new Research &amp; Development model which puts the awesome power of discovery and creation into the hands of the masses, and then spread the know-how to every participant.<br />
<a href="http://brittaandrebecca.org" rel="nofollow" rel="nofollow">Britta Riley and Rebecca Bray</a> are artists working to create crowdsourced R&amp;D solutions for environmental issues. Their inspiration for community involvement derives from concepts of local production (think of the coming network of 3D multi-material printers) and mass collaboration enabled by Web 2.0. They envision the DIY aspect, not as a nostalgia-inducing hobby or a compromise during hard financial times, but as a futuristic infrastructure-light alternative to big R&amp;D. They work to frame a movement where people feel validated, welcomed into an effort to break apart scientific breakthroughs into actionable tasks, and motivated to contribute. They believe it's time to take the potential contributions of the general public to the environmental movement more seriously. They are currently residents at Eyebeam, the art and technology atelier in New York. Their work has been featured in <a href="/freelinking/ArtNews" rel="nofollow"><a href="/freelinking/ArtNews">ArtNews</a></a>, on the Discovery Channel, at the Venice Biennale, and the A+C gallery in Chicago. They own an interactive design agency in New York, Submersible Design, through which they consult with science and art museums about creating participatory media.<br />
Visit the project sites @ <a href="http://brittaandrebecca.org" title="http://brittaandrebecca.org" rel="nofollow">http://brittaandrebecca.org</a> and <a href="http://windowfarms.org" title="http://windowfarms.org" rel="nofollow">http://windowfarms.org</a> - contact Britta &amp; Rebecca if you would like to make your own Window Farm</p>
    ]]></summary>
    <content type="html"><![CDATA[<p><img src="http://brittaandrebecca.org/images/windowfarm.jpg" align="left" hspace="20" />  <a href="http://windowfarms.org" rel="nofollow">window farms</a> are vertical, hydroponic, modular, low-energy, high-yield edible window gardens built using low-impact or recycled local materials. The goal of the project is to create a new Research &amp; Development model which puts the awesome power of discovery and creation into the hands of the masses, and then spread the know-how to every participant.</p>
<p><a href="http://brittaandrebecca.org" rel="nofollow">Britta Riley and Rebecca Bray</a> are artists working to create crowdsourced R&amp;D solutions for environmental issues. Their inspiration for community involvement derives from concepts of local production (think of the coming network of 3D multi-material printers) and mass collaboration enabled by Web 2.0. They envision the DIY aspect, not as a nostalgia-inducing hobby or a compromise during hard financial times, but as a futuristic infrastructure-light alternative to big R&amp;D. They work to frame a movement where people feel validated, welcomed into an effort to break apart scientific breakthroughs into actionable tasks, and motivated to contribute. They believe it's time to take the potential contributions of the general public to the environmental movement more seriously. They are currently residents at Eyebeam, the art and technology atelier in New York. Their work has been featured in <a href="/freelinking/ArtNews">ArtNews</a>, on the Discovery Channel, at the Venice Biennale, and the A+C gallery in Chicago. They own an interactive design agency in New York, Submersible Design, through which they consult with science and art museums about creating participatory media.</p>
<p>Visit the project sites @ <a href="http://brittaandrebecca.org" title="http://brittaandrebecca.org">http://brittaandrebecca.org</a> and <a href="http://windowfarms.org" title="http://windowfarms.org">http://windowfarms.org</a> - contact Britta &amp; Rebecca if you would like to make your own Window Farm</p>
<p>-- via <a href="http://twitter.com/sushi" rel="nofollow">@sushi</a></p>
    ]]></content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Engage Media - Sydney screening</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.aliak.com/content/engage-media-sydney-screening" />
    <id>http://www.aliak.com/content/engage-media-sydney-screening</id>
    <published>2009-05-25T06:13:35+01:00</published>
    <updated>2009-05-25T07:08:28+01:00</updated>
    <author>
      <name>AliaK</name>
    </author>
    <category term="activism" />
    <category term="blog entry" />
    <category term="blog entry" />
    <category term="cinema" />
    <category term="collective" />
    <category term="community" />
    <category term="documentary" />
    <category term="documentation" />
    <category term="interview" />
    <category term="sustainable living" />
    <category term="sydney" />
    <category term="video" />
    <summary type="html"><![CDATA[<p>I went along to the <a href="http://www.engagemedia.org/Members/andycat/events/sydney-engagemedia-may-screening/">Engage Media - Sydney screening</a> in May 2009 and saw four Indonesian community-based films. It was amazing to hear of some of the collectives and community work going on there. <a href="http://www.engagemedia.org">Engage Media</a> work tirelessly in documenting projects across Asia Pacific and have a large video library of films. Regular screenings are held to share the films with people in other communities. I asked Andy from Engage Media what the organisation was all about : </p>
<p>video @ <a href="http://aliak.blip.tv/file/2127156" title="http://aliak.blip.tv/file/2127156">http://aliak.blip.tv/file/2127156</a></p>
<p><embed src="http://blip.tv/play/AYGCvgYA" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="650"  height="400" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></p>
    ]]></summary>
    <content type="html"><![CDATA[<p>I went along to the <a href="http://www.engagemedia.org/Members/andycat/events/sydney-engagemedia-may-screening/">Engage Media - Sydney screening</a> in May 2009 and saw four Indonesian community-based films. It was amazing to hear of some of the collectives and community work going on there. <a href="http://www.engagemedia.org">Engage Media</a> work tirelessly in documenting projects across Asia Pacific and have a large video library of films. Regular screenings are held to share the films with people in other communities. I asked Andy from Engage Media what the organisation was all about : </p>
<p>video @ <a href="http://aliak.blip.tv/file/2127156" title="http://aliak.blip.tv/file/2127156">http://aliak.blip.tv/file/2127156</a></p>
<p><embed src="http://blip.tv/play/AYGCvgYA" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="650"  height="400" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></p>
<p><a href="http://www.engagemedia.org/Members/dherdiany/videos/Dengar-bonseng.mp4/view">"Bonseng"</a> - a video diary of some boys in a detention centre and showed the sign language using their hands that they use to communicate between the rooms in the compound.<br />
<a href="http://www.engagemedia.org/Members/forumlenteng/videos/BILAL_OK.divx/view">"Bilal"</a> was a short clip of a Muslim member of the punk scene signing Adzan as part of his worshipping.<br />
<a href="http://www.engagemedia.org/Members/alimander/videos/taringbabi.avi/view">"Taring Babi"</a> showed the punk community known as Marjinal, AFRA (Anti Fasis, Anti Rasis), and Tempe Quality and their band, music label, screenprinting &amp; poster art business as well as their work with children &amp; members of the community.<br />
<a href="http://www.engagemedia.org/Members/forumlenteng/videos/andang_sarjo_english.avi/view">"Andang And Sarjo"</a> was an interview with a local small-businessman / hairdresser whilst he cut the interviewers hair short<br />
<a href="http://www.engagemedia.org/Members/IVAA/videos/jogjaberhatimural.avi/view">"Jogja Berhati Mural"</a> told the story of some of the street art and murals painted in the local communities to brighten the streetscapes, as well as other community projects such as cleaner disposal of community rubbish</p>
<p><a href="http://www.engagemedia.org" title="http://www.engagemedia.org">http://www.engagemedia.org</a></p>
<p><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2428/3535943338_cd2470d1b4.jpg" width="300" />  <img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2104/3535943428_ee73ef4b65.jpg" width="300" /><br />
<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3557/3535943244_d713e52178.jpg" width="300" />  <img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2380/3535943048_cb4f939bfc.jpg" width="300" /><br />
<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3602/3535125523_9853df7360.jpg" width="300" />  <img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2353/3535942848_c2704e2a19.jpg" width="300" /><br />
<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3334/3535942764_2fc61b9e75.jpg" width="300" />  <img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2101/3535942700_17cdf4bb73.jpg" width="300" /><br />
<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3640/3535942638_42299b870c.jpg" width="300" />  <img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2466/3535942564_9cb1e83699.jpg" width="300" /><br />
<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3572/3535124907_9f8193c6dc.jpg" width="300" />   <img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2011/3535942352_4b59d8369e.jpg" width="300" /><br />
<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3593/3535942420_b0cbe01c28.jpg" width="300" />   <img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3658/3535124421_52c05d13b9.jpg" width="300" /><br />
<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2386/3535124347_ab2b1785f9.jpg" width="300" />   <img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3332/3535941892_28d2945e45.jpg" width="300" /></p>
<p>photos @ <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/aliak_com/tags/engagemedia" title="http://www.flickr.com/photos/aliak_com/tags/engagemedia">http://www.flickr.com/photos/aliak_com/tags/engagemedia</a></p>
    ]]></content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Humanity is NOT a virus - by zzz33333 (youtube)</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.aliak.com/content/humanity-not-a-virus-zzz33333-youtube" />
    <id>http://www.aliak.com/content/humanity-not-a-virus-zzz33333-youtube</id>
    <published>2008-06-07T09:38:33+01:00</published>
    <updated>2008-06-07T09:50:33+01:00</updated>
    <author>
      <name>kathy</name>
    </author>
    <category term="blog entry" />
    <category term="blog entry" />
    <category term="ideas" />
    <category term="sustainable living" />
    <category term="video" />
    <category term="video art" />
    <category term="video blogging" />
    <category term="videoblog" />
    <category term="writer" />
    <category term="writing" />
    <summary type="html"><![CDATA[<p>zzz33333's <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWd-L6EYofo">video</a> on Humanity is NOT a virus - complete with The Matrix (movie) references :)</p>
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/wWd-L6EYofo&hl=en" /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/wWd-L6EYofo&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><p>
and the links he posts in another video @ <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eB0PNQlc5OU" title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eB0PNQlc5OU">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eB0PNQlc5OU</a></p>
<p>---</p>
<p>READ THIS!</p>
<p>Ishmael and others by Daniel Quinn</p>
<p>READ ISHMAEL</p>
<p>ISHMAEL BY DANIEL QUINN</p>
<p>EVERYONE READ ISHMAEL!</p>
<p>Endgame and others by Derrick Jensen<br />
Against Civilization and others by John Zerzan<br />
The Tao Te Ching by Lao-Tse<br />
White Noise by Don Delillo<br />
Demian by Hermann Hesse<br />
In the Absence of the Sacred by Jerry Mander<br />
WATCH THIS NOW:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.archive.org/details/PhilosopherSeed-DerrickJensenEndgamePartOne803" title="http://www.archive.org/details/PhilosopherSeed-DerrickJensenEndgamePartOne803">http://www.archive.org/details/PhilosopherSeed-DerrickJensenEndgamePartO...</a></p>
<p>PART 2:</p>
    ]]></summary>
    <content type="html"><![CDATA[<p>zzz33333's <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWd-L6EYofo">video</a> on Humanity is NOT a virus - complete with The Matrix (movie) references :)</p>
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/wWd-L6EYofo&hl=en" /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/wWd-L6EYofo&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><p>
and the links he posts in another video @ <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eB0PNQlc5OU" title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eB0PNQlc5OU">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eB0PNQlc5OU</a></p>
<p>---</p>
<p>READ THIS!</p>
<p>Ishmael and others by Daniel Quinn</p>
<p>READ ISHMAEL</p>
<p>ISHMAEL BY DANIEL QUINN</p>
<p>EVERYONE READ ISHMAEL!</p>
<p>Endgame and others by Derrick Jensen<br />
Against Civilization and others by John Zerzan<br />
The Tao Te Ching by Lao-Tse<br />
White Noise by Don Delillo<br />
Demian by Hermann Hesse<br />
In the Absence of the Sacred by Jerry Mander<br />
WATCH THIS NOW:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.archive.org/details/PhilosopherSeed-DerrickJensenEndgamePartOne803" title="http://www.archive.org/details/PhilosopherSeed-DerrickJensenEndgamePartOne803">http://www.archive.org/details/PhilosopherSeed-DerrickJensenEndgamePartO...</a></p>
<p>PART 2:<br />
<a href="http://www.archive.org/details/PhilosopherSeed-DerrickJensenEndgamePartTwo255" title="http://www.archive.org/details/PhilosopherSeed-DerrickJensenEndgamePartTwo255">http://www.archive.org/details/PhilosopherSeed-DerrickJensenEndgamePartT...</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.endgame.org" title="http://www.endgame.org">http://www.endgame.org</a><br />
(a very important website)</p>
<p>Derrick Jensen's premises from his book Endgame:<br />
<a href="http://www.endgamethebook.org/Excerpt" title="http://www.endgamethebook.org/Excerpt">http://www.endgamethebook.org/Excerpt</a>...</p>
<p>clip from Monty Python and the Holy Grail:<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o76WQzVJ434" title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o76WQzVJ434">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o76WQzVJ434</a></p>
<p>The Jeff Luers Story:<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZvNapmZVQA" title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZvNapmZVQA">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZvNapmZVQA</a></p>
<p>Anti-Depressants Exposed:<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sstoa406Oa0" title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sstoa406Oa0">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sstoa406Oa0</a></p>
<p>The Message in the Waves:<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m84-X-3YXZo&amp;feature=PlayList&amp;p=78EAB245E428B783&amp;index=54" title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m84-X-3YXZo&amp;feature=PlayList&amp;p=78EAB245E428B783&amp;index=54">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m84-X-3YXZo&amp;feature=PlayList&amp;p=78EAB245E4...</a></p>
<p>Guy Debord:<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_lS5ACEQho" title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_lS5ACEQho">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_lS5ACEQho</a></p>
<p>Manufacturing Consent (the chimp with sign language:)<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHJHGOE8MIs" title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHJHGOE8MIs">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHJHGOE8MIs</a></p>
<p>"Chimps Beat College Students at Memory Test"<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QJLwzJ8dvM" title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QJLwzJ8dvM">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QJLwzJ8dvM</a></p>
<p>Best of Idiocracy (by Mike Judge) 2:<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxRqRZ81Rmg" title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxRqRZ81Rmg">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxRqRZ81Rmg</a></p>
<p>Review of John Zerzan's "Against Civilization"<br />
<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-151394357.html" title="http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-151394357.html">http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-151394357.html</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.ishmael.com" title="http://www.ishmael.com">http://www.ishmael.com</a> (a bit commercial but there is good stuff anyway)</p>
<p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/stimulator" title="http://www.youtube.com/stimulator">http://www.youtube.com/stimulator</a><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/redpharmacist" title="http://www.youtube.com/redpharmacist">http://www.youtube.com/redpharmacist</a><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/DEATHINKING" title="http://www.youtube.com/DEATHINKING">http://www.youtube.com/DEATHINKING</a><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/pennilesscripple" title="http://www.youtube.com/pennilesscripple">http://www.youtube.com/pennilesscripple</a><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/vaahti" title="http://www.youtube.com/vaahti">http://www.youtube.com/vaahti</a></p>
<p>many others</p>
<p>oh yeah here is a paper i (zzz33333) wrote about civilization:<br />
<a href="http://blather.newdream.net/c/civilization.html" title="http://blather.newdream.net/c/civilization.html">http://blather.newdream.net/c/civilization.html</a><br />
(it starts a little ways down. it is called "the wise will arise")</p>
    ]]></content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>biofuels - George Monbiot&#039;s prediction + rice shortages articles</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.aliak.com/content/biofuels-george-monbiots-prediction-rice-shortages-articles" />
    <id>http://www.aliak.com/content/biofuels-george-monbiots-prediction-rice-shortages-articles</id>
    <published>2008-05-05T21:26:26+01:00</published>
    <updated>2008-05-10T16:18:58+01:00</updated>
    <author>
      <name>kathy</name>
    </author>
    <category term="blog entry" />
    <category term="blog entry" />
    <category term="environment" />
    <category term="global warming" />
    <category term="sustainable living" />
    <summary type="html"><![CDATA[<p>wow it sounds like <a href="http://environment.guardian.co.uk/print/0,,329758811-121568,00.html" rel="nofollow" rel="nofollow">George Monbiot got it right</a> - unfortunately :(<br />
from 2007 :<br />
<a href="http://environment.guardian.co.uk/print/0,,329758811-121568,00.html" title="http://environment.guardian.co.uk/print/0,,329758811-121568,00.html" rel="nofollow">http://environment.guardian.co.uk/print/0,,329758811-121568,00.html</a><br />
If we want to save the planet, we need a five-year freeze on biofuels<br />
- Oil produced from plants sets up competition for food between cars and people. People - and the environment - will lose<br />
George Monbiot<br />
Tuesday March 27, 2007<br />
<em><br />
It used to be a matter of good intentions gone awry. Now it is plain fraud. The governments using biofuel to tackle global warming know that it causes more harm than good. But they plough on regardless. In theory, fuels made from plants can reduce the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by cars and trucks. Plants absorb carbon as they grow - it is released again when the fuel is burned. By encouraging oil companies to switch from fossil plants to living ones, governments on both sides of the Atlantic claim to be "decarbonising" our transport networks.<br />
</em><br />
<em><br />
In the budget last week, Gordon Brown announced that he would extend the tax rebate for biofuels until 2010. From next year all suppliers in the UK will have to ensure that 2.5% of the fuel they sell is made from plants - if not, they must pay a penalty of 15p a litre. The obligation rises to 5% in 2010. By 2050, the government hopes that 33% of our fuel will come from crops. Last month George Bush announced that he would quintuple the US target for biofuels: by 2017 they should be supplying 24% of the nation's transport fuel.<br />
</em><br />
<em><br />
So what's wrong with these programmes? Only that they are a formula for environmental and humanitarian disaster. In 2004 I warned, on these pages, that biofuels would set up a competition for food between cars and people. The people would necessarily lose: those who can afford to drive are richer than those who are in danger of starvation. It would also lead to the destruction of rainforests and other important habitats. I received more abuse than I've had for any other column - except for when I attacked the 9/11 conspiracists. I was told my claims were ridiculous, laughable, impossible. Well in one respect I was wrong. I thought these effects wouldn't materialise for many years. They are happening already.<br />
</em></p>
    ]]></summary>
    <content type="html"><![CDATA[<p>wow it sounds like <a href="http://environment.guardian.co.uk/print/0,,329758811-121568,00.html" rel="nofollow">George Monbiot got it right</a> - unfortunately :(</p>
<p>from 2007 :<br />
<a href="http://environment.guardian.co.uk/print/0,,329758811-121568,00.html" title="http://environment.guardian.co.uk/print/0,,329758811-121568,00.html">http://environment.guardian.co.uk/print/0,,329758811-121568,00.html</a><br />
If we want to save the planet, we need a five-year freeze on biofuels<br />
- Oil produced from plants sets up competition for food between cars and people. People - and the environment - will lose<br />
George Monbiot<br />
Tuesday March 27, 2007</p>
<p><em><br />
It used to be a matter of good intentions gone awry. Now it is plain fraud. The governments using biofuel to tackle global warming know that it causes more harm than good. But they plough on regardless. In theory, fuels made from plants can reduce the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by cars and trucks. Plants absorb carbon as they grow - it is released again when the fuel is burned. By encouraging oil companies to switch from fossil plants to living ones, governments on both sides of the Atlantic claim to be "decarbonising" our transport networks.<br />
</em></p>
<p><em><br />
In the budget last week, Gordon Brown announced that he would extend the tax rebate for biofuels until 2010. From next year all suppliers in the UK will have to ensure that 2.5% of the fuel they sell is made from plants - if not, they must pay a penalty of 15p a litre. The obligation rises to 5% in 2010. By 2050, the government hopes that 33% of our fuel will come from crops. Last month George Bush announced that he would quintuple the US target for biofuels: by 2017 they should be supplying 24% of the nation's transport fuel.<br />
</em></p>
<p><em><br />
So what's wrong with these programmes? Only that they are a formula for environmental and humanitarian disaster. In 2004 I warned, on these pages, that biofuels would set up a competition for food between cars and people. The people would necessarily lose: those who can afford to drive are richer than those who are in danger of starvation. It would also lead to the destruction of rainforests and other important habitats. I received more abuse than I've had for any other column - except for when I attacked the 9/11 conspiracists. I was told my claims were ridiculous, laughable, impossible. Well in one respect I was wrong. I thought these effects wouldn't materialise for many years. They are happening already.<br />
</em></p>
<p><em><br />
Since the beginning of last year, the price of maize has doubled. The price of wheat has also reached a 10-year high, while global stockpiles of both grains have reached 25-year lows. Already there have been food riots in Mexico and reports that the poor are feeling the strain all over the world. The US department of agriculture warns that "if we have a drought or a very poor harvest, we could see the sort of volatility we saw in the 1970s, and if it does not happen this year, we are also forecasting lower stockpiles next year". According to the UN food and agriculture organisation, the main reason is the demand for ethanol: the alcohol used for motor fuel, which can be made from maize and wheat.<br />
</em></p>
<p><em><br />
Farmers will respond to better prices by planting more, but it is not clear that they can overtake the booming demand for biofuel. Even if they do, they will catch up only by ploughing virgin habitat.<br />
</em></p>
<p><a href="http://www.monbiot.com" title="http://www.monbiot.com">http://www.monbiot.com</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.biofuelwatch.org.uk" title="http://www.biofuelwatch.org.uk">http://www.biofuelwatch.org.uk</a></p>
<p>---</p>
<p>other related articles :</p>
<p><a href="http://www.realitysandwich.com/biofuels_and_rise_nationalistic_environmentalism" rel="nofollow">Biofuels and the Rise of Nationalistic Environmentalism</a></p>
<p>---</p>
<p>what the headlines around the world say .. a sample of online newspapers</p>
<p><b>The Australian</b> - search for "rice shortage"</p>
<p><a href="http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23559753-26103,00.html" rel="nofollow">Food riots not our fault - farmers</a><br />
<a href="http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23591765-601,00.html" rel="nofollow">US shops ration food for first time</a><br />
<a href="http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23520597-11949,00.html" rel="nofollow">Drought a factor in food aid shortage: UN</a><br />
<a href="http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23578239-5013404,00.html" rel="nofollow">Farmers fail to deliver on rice</a><br />
<a href="http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23539976-20142,00.html" rel="nofollow">Food inflation, riots stir concern</a><br />
<a href="http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23595722-26397,00.html" rel="nofollow">US stores forced to ration rice</a><br />
<a href="http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21246662-7583,00.html" rel="nofollow">Bill Shorten: National effort can solve water shortage</a><br />
<a href="http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23595713-11949,00.html" rel="nofollow">High prices everywhere but no water, no crop</a><br />
<a href="http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23595137-12377,00.html" rel="nofollow">Thai rice hits new record</a></p>
<p><b>Jerusalem Post</b> articles - search for "rice shortage"</p>
<p><a href="http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/jpost/access/1473091821.html?dids=1473091821:1473091821&amp;FMT=ABS&amp;FMTS=ABS:FT&amp;date=May+1%2C+2008&amp;author=GAL+TZIPERMAN+LOTAN&amp;pub=Jerusalem+Post&amp;edition=&amp;startpage=6&amp;desc=Scientists%2C+activists+debate+if+genetically+modified+foods+are+panacea+or+plague" rel="nofollow">Scientists, activists debate if genetically modified foods are panacea or plague</a><br />
<a href="http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/jpost/access/1471425221.html?dids=1471425221:1471425221&amp;FMT=ABS&amp;FMTS=ABS:FT&amp;date=Apr+29%2C+2008&amp;author=Anonymous&amp;pub=Jerusalem+Post&amp;edition=&amp;startpage=13&amp;desc=The+price+of+rice" rel="nofollow">The price of rice</a><br />
<a href="http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/jpost/access/1471424781.html?dids=1471424781:1471424781&amp;FMT=ABS&amp;FMTS=ABS:FT&amp;date=Apr+28%2C+2008&amp;author=SHARON+WROBEL%3BBloomberg&amp;pub=Jerusalem+Post&amp;edition=&amp;startpage=15&amp;desc=Food+crisis+hits+local+supermarkets.+Stores+put+limit+on+rice+sales" rel="nofollow">Food crisis hits local supermarkets. Stores put limit on rice sales</a><br />
<a href="http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/jpost/access/1471424661.html?dids=1471424661:1471424661&amp;FMT=ABS&amp;FMTS=ABS:FT&amp;date=Apr+28%2C+2008&amp;author=GAL+TZIPERMAN+LOTAN&amp;pub=Jerusalem+Post&amp;edition=&amp;startpage=5&amp;desc=Israeli+scientists+fight+food+crisis+with+gene+research" rel="nofollow">Israeli scientists fight food crisis with gene research</a><br />
<a href="http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/jpost/access/1469288871.html?dids=1469288871:1469288871&amp;FMT=ABS&amp;FMTS=ABS:FT&amp;date=Apr+21%2C+2008&amp;author=The+Media+Line+staff&amp;pub=Jerusalem+Post&amp;edition=&amp;startpage=5&amp;desc=As+bread+prices+rise%2C+Saudis+flounder+in+flour+crisis" rel="nofollow">As bread prices rise, Saudis flounder in flour crisis</a></p>
<p><b>Times of India</b> - search for "rice shortage"</p>
<p><a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/Rice_row_British_MP_hits_out_at_EU/articleshow/3010728.cms" rel="nofollow">British MP hits out at EU over basmati rice shortage</a><br />
<a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Earth/Developmental_Issues/No_quick_fix_to_soothe_Asian_rice_shortage_fears/articleshow/2987055.cms" rel="nofollow">No quick fix to soothe Asian rice shortage fears</a><br />
<a edithref="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Business/Thailand_wont_cut_rice_exports_PM/rssarticleshow/2987461.cms" rel="nofollow">Thailand won't cut rice exports: PM</a><br />
<a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/44706443.cms" rel="nofollow">'Rice bowl' faces paddy seed shortage</a><br />
<a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Grain_pain_Rationing_in_US_as_rice_gets_pricey/articleshow/2980466.cms" rel="nofollow">Grain pain: Rationing in US as rice gets pricey</a><br />
<a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2518011.cms" rel="nofollow">China blames global warming for growing water shortage</a><br />
<a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Earth/articlelist/2647180.cms" rel="nofollow"><br />
<a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/US_eats_5_times_more_than_India_per_capita/articleshow/3008449.cms" rel="nofollow">US eats 5 times more than India per capita</a><br />
<a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Earth/Developmental_Issues/Central_bankers_sound_alarm_over_food_prices_/articleshow/3012645.cms" rel="nofollow">Central bankers sound alarm over food prices</a><br />
<a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Earth/Developmental_Issues/Scientists_dispute_virtues_of_black_gold/articleshow/3004822.cms" rel="nofollow">Scientists dispute virtues of 'black gold'</a><br />
<a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Earth/Developmental_Issues/ADB_announces_fund_to_fight_climate_change/articleshow/3012314.cms" rel="nofollow">ADB announces fund to fight climate change</a><br />
<a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Earth/Developmental_Issues/Now_Bush_blames_India_for_rising_food_prices/articleshow/3006775.cms" rel="nofollow">Now, Bush blames India for rising food prices</a><br />
<a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Earth/Developmental_Issues/Bush_proposes_770_million_for_world_food_crisis/articleshow/3004504.cms" rel="nofollow">Bush proposes $770 million for world food crisis</a><br />
<a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Earth/Developmental_Issues/Asia_tourism_airlines_complacent_on_climate/articleshow/3000924.cms" rel="nofollow">Asia tourism, airlines 'complacent' on climate</a><br />
<a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Earth/Developmental_Issues/Biofuels_frenzy_fuels_global_food_crisis/articleshow/2997537.cms" rel="nofollow">'Biofuels frenzy fuels global food crisis'</a><br />
<a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Earth/Developmental_Issues/Few_top_corp_suppliers_have_emissions_targets/articleshow/3000941.cms" rel="nofollow">Few top corp suppliers have emissions targets</a><br />
<a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Earth/Developmental_Issues/UN_sees_world_climate_change_deal_in_2009/articleshow/3011654.cms" rel="nofollow">UN sees world climate change deal in 2009</a></a></p>
<p><b>Tehelka</b> (India Independent paper) - search for "rice shortage"<br />
<a href="http://www.tehelka.com/story_main38.asp?filename=cr190408thelast.asp" rel="nofollow">The Last Stand Of Niyam Raja</a><br />
<a href="http://www.tehelka.com/story_main38.asp?filename=Ne120408hammered_sickle.asp" rel="nofollow">Hammered By The Sickle</a></p>
<p>so whilst there's a shortage of rice in Thailand, some is going to waste in India for different reasons. some of the farmers want to use machines to harvest their crops. but the unions say no - workers must use the sickle. this gives the people jobs - they can work at their own times. farmers pay a nokkukooli - payment for watching work being done. as the harvesting can take longer, sometimes the harvests are lost in the flooding rains prior to being harvested. </p>
<p><a href="http://www.tehelka.com/story_main28.asp?filename=Ne070407New_kerala.asp" rel="nofollow">NEW KERALA LINE:COKE BAD, PEPSI GOOD</a></p>
    ]]></content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>The Boom Book - capturing the essence of the Boom Festival</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.aliak.com/content/the-boom-book-capturing-essence-boom-festival" />
    <id>http://www.aliak.com/content/the-boom-book-capturing-essence-boom-festival</id>
    <published>2008-02-12T21:15:56+00:00</published>
    <updated>2008-03-16T16:15:50+00:00</updated>
    <author>
      <name>AliaK</name>
    </author>
    <category term="event" />
    <category term="festival" />
    <category term="international" />
    <category term="outdoor party" />
    <category term="psychedelic culture" />
    <category term="psytrance" />
    <category term="sustainable living" />
    <category term="tribal" />
    <category term="urban art" />
    <category term="world music" />
    <summary type="html"><![CDATA[<p>The "Boom Book" was a project carried out during 2007 as a commemoration of Portugal's Boom Festival's 10th anniversary. The goal was is to independently release a book about Boom but also to highlight its main contribution to today's world - as leader in incorporating novel approaches to entertainment and providing experiences lived through a festival which can pioneer new perceptions and visions, enhancing all of us and our relationship with the world we live in.<br />
This book is a collaborative project put together by anthropologists, journalists, designers, illustrators, poets, musicologists, and photographers to capture the essence of the Boom Festival. The Boom Book includes essays, interviews, visionary art by Alex Grey, Robert Venosa or Android, and innovative texts about psy-trance. It is a cultural record of striking importance, capturing the beauty of Boom and also the role of subcultures in a modern world.<br />
visit <a href="http://www.boomfestival.org/boombook/" title="http://www.boomfestival.org/boombook/" rel="nofollow">http://www.boomfestival.org/boombook/</a> for information about the Boom Book, or <a href="http://www.boomfestival.org/" title="http://www.boomfestival.org/" rel="nofollow">http://www.boomfestival.org/</a> for details about the festival.<br />
the 2008 Boom Festival will be held from 11-18th August. you can <a href="http://www.boomfestival.org/boom2008/images/maps/BoomFestival08.kmz" rel="nofollow" rel="nofollow">virtually visit the Boom Festival location</a> in google earth.</p>
    ]]></summary>
    <content type="html"><![CDATA[<p>The "Boom Book" was a project carried out during 2007 as a commemoration of Portugal's Boom Festival's 10th anniversary. The goal was is to independently release a book about Boom but also to highlight its main contribution to today's world - as leader in incorporating novel approaches to entertainment and providing experiences lived through a festival which can pioneer new perceptions and visions, enhancing all of us and our relationship with the world we live in.</p>
<p>This book is a collaborative project put together by anthropologists, journalists, designers, illustrators, poets, musicologists, and photographers to capture the essence of the Boom Festival. The Boom Book includes essays, interviews, visionary art by Alex Grey, Robert Venosa or Android, and innovative texts about psy-trance. It is a cultural record of striking importance, capturing the beauty of Boom and also the role of subcultures in a modern world.</p>
<p>visit <a href="http://www.boomfestival.org/boombook/" title="http://www.boomfestival.org/boombook/">http://www.boomfestival.org/boombook/</a> for information about the Boom Book, or <a href="http://www.boomfestival.org/" title="http://www.boomfestival.org/">http://www.boomfestival.org/</a> for details about the festival.<br />
the 2008 Boom Festival will be held from 11-18th August. you can <a href="http://www.boomfestival.org/boom2008/images/maps/BoomFestival08.kmz" rel="nofollow">virtually visit the Boom Festival location</a> in google earth.</p>
    ]]></content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>Salon Mazal</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.aliak.com/node/14279" />
    <id>http://www.aliak.com/node/14279</id>
    <published>2008-01-26T21:25:17+00:00</published>
    <updated>2008-01-26T21:29:22+00:00</updated>
    <author>
      <name>AliaK</name>
    </author>
    <category term="activism" />
    <category term="collective" />
    <category term="community" />
    <category term="culture_jamming" />
    <category term="environment" />
    <category term="human rights" />
    <category term="israel" />
    <category term="social change" />
    <category term="sustainable living" />
    <category term="tel aviv" />
    <category term="urban art" />
    <category term="urban space" />
    <category term="writing" />
    <category term="workshop" />
    <summary type="html"><![CDATA[<p>Salon Mazal was established in 2001, in Tel Aviv, Israel, by a group of social-environmental activists. Salon Mazal is a non-for-profit registered charity that serves as an information distribution center for social, environmental and political change The place functions as a store (including books, magazines and fair-trade products), a lending library, an artist gallery, a vegetarian bar and a community center where movie screenings, lectures, workshops and meetings take place.</p>
<p>The place is run in line with anarchist ideology and values, which encourage an egalitarian, non-hierarchical community. Salon Mazal is run by a group of volunteers. Consensus decision-making is used to promote the expression of individual voices within the group in daily meetings.</p>
    ]]></summary>
    <content type="html"><![CDATA[<p>Salon Mazal was established in 2001, in Tel Aviv, Israel, by a group of social-environmental activists. Salon Mazal is a non-for-profit registered charity that serves as an information distribution center for social, environmental and political change The place functions as a store (including books, magazines and fair-trade products), a lending library, an artist gallery, a vegetarian bar and a community center where movie screenings, lectures, workshops and meetings take place.</p>
<p>The place is run in line with anarchist ideology and values, which encourage an egalitarian, non-hierarchical community. Salon Mazal is run by a group of volunteers. Consensus decision-making is used to promote the expression of individual voices within the group in daily meetings.</p>
    ]]></content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>The Journeybook - Free 40 page sampler now available to download</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.aliak.com/content/the-journeybook-free-40-page-sampler-now-available-download" />
    <id>http://www.aliak.com/content/the-journeybook-free-40-page-sampler-now-available-download</id>
    <published>2007-11-16T11:08:56+00:00</published>
    <updated>2007-11-17T20:16:31+00:00</updated>
    <author>
      <name>AliaK</name>
    </author>
    <category term="australia" />
    <category term="books" />
    <category term="internet" />
    <category term="psychedelic culture" />
    <category term="sustainable living" />
    <category term="writing" />
    <summary type="html"><![CDATA[<p>Journeybook is a collection of tales of altered states, essays, history and manifesto for psychedelic culture in the 21st century. It covers the modern usage of sacramental plants and offers insights into traditional and contemporary shamanism, as well as analysis of the current state of global psychedelic culture and its place in a sustainable future.<br />
It features interviews with Terence <a href="/freelinking/McKenna" rel="nofollow"><a href="/freelinking/McKenna">McKenna</a></a> (previously unpublished), Dennis <a href="/freelinking/McKenna" rel="nofollow"><a href="/freelinking/McKenna">McKenna</a></a>, Daniel Pinchbeck, as well as articles by Rak Razam, Erik Davis, Graham St John, Tim Parish, Tim Boucher and a fresh selection of bold new writers from around Australia. At 250 pages, it is fully illustrated with dozens of paintings, photography and digital graphics from the Undergrowth art collective, including new<br />
works by Gerhard Hillmann, Oliver Dunlop, Iswoz, Ahimsa:Love, Tim Parish and others.<br />
Read more or visit <a href="http://undergrowth.org/journeybook_sampler_free_to_download" title="http://undergrowth.org/journeybook_sampler_free_to_download" rel="nofollow">http://undergrowth.org/journeybook_sampler_free_to_download</a> to find out more and download the 40 page sampler, and to place an order for the book.</p>
    ]]></summary>
    <content type="html"><![CDATA[<p><img src="http://undergrowth.org/system/files/u7/journey-book-sampler-banner.jpg" width="650" /></p>
<p>The Journeybook</p>
<p>Free 40 page sampler now available to download*</p>
<p><a href="http://undergrowth.org/journeybook_sampler_free_to_download" title="http://undergrowth.org/journeybook_sampler_free_to_download">http://undergrowth.org/journeybook_sampler_free_to_download</a></p>
<p>Journeybook is an essential map of hyperspace for the contemporary<br />
psychonaut and the uninitiated alike. Travel through time and space<br />
and partake of mushrooms at Harvard, hemp in Nimbin, DMT in the<br />
Amazon and anti-depressents in the suburbs of the West, to name but a<br />
few of the experiences which await you. Dance at Dionysian festivals,<br />
meet alchemists in the laboratories of Switzerland, trippers in the<br />
corporate highrises of Brisvegas, and journey to the edge of the<br />
universe within our anthology's pages...</p>
<p>Journeybook is a collection of tales of altered states, essays,<br />
history and manifesto for psychedelic culture in the 21st century. It<br />
covers the modern usage of sacramental plants and offers insights<br />
into traditional and contemporary shamanism, as well as analysis of<br />
the current state of global psychedelic culture and its place in a<br />
sustainable future.</p>
<p>It features interviews with Terence <a href="/freelinking/McKenna">McKenna</a> (previously unpublished),<br />
Dennis <a href="/freelinking/McKenna">McKenna</a>, Daniel Pinchbeck, as well as articles by Rak Razam,<br />
Erik Davis, Graham St John, Tim Parish, Tim Boucher and a fresh<br />
selection of bold new writers from around Australia. At 250 pages, it<br />
is fully illustrated with dozens of paintings, photography and<br />
digital graphics from the Undergrowth art collective, including new<br />
works by Gerhard Hillmann, Oliver Dunlop, Iswoz, Ahimsa:Love, Tim<br />
Parish and others.</p>
<p>Journeybook is an essential handbook for those interested in the<br />
subject of consciousness, spirituality and understanding the rich<br />
pharmacopia of thought that exists beyond the confines of mainstream<br />
cosmology.</p>
<p>Read on. Tune in. Discover.</p>
<p><a href="http://undergrowth.org/journeybook_sampler_free_to_download" title="http://undergrowth.org/journeybook_sampler_free_to_download">http://undergrowth.org/journeybook_sampler_free_to_download</a></p>
<p>*SPECIAL OFFER*<br />
We are offering online readers and community the opportunity to<br />
support Journeybook by purchasing a pre-launch copy and save $10 on the<br />
cover<br />
price. Payment can be made through Paypal on the website. Please<br />
forward this email to your networks.</p>
<p>.Undergrowth #8: JOURNEYBOOK will be launched at the Entheo Genesis<br />
Australia 2007 on November 30th.<br />
<a href="http://www.entheo.net/2007sounds.htm" title="http://www.entheo.net/2007sounds.htm">http://www.entheo.net/2007sounds.htm</a></p>
<p>{why do green things reach for the sun?}</p>
<p>{why do green things reach for the sun?}</p>
    ]]></content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>World Changing Book</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.aliak.com/content/world-changing-book" />
    <id>http://www.aliak.com/content/world-changing-book</id>
    <published>2006-11-19T16:55:08+00:00</published>
    <updated>2007-03-31T14:47:35+01:00</updated>
    <author>
      <name>AliaK</name>
    </author>
    <category term="books" />
    <category term="environment" />
    <category term="future" />
    <category term="ideas" />
    <category term="internet" />
    <category term="sustainable living" />
    <summary type="html"><![CDATA[<p>I've just bought this book so I can read it when I get back to Aus for holidays. the World Changing site has heaps of useful articles so I'm hoping the book will too!<br />
<a href="http://www.worldchanging.com/book/" title="http://www.worldchanging.com/book/" rel="nofollow">http://www.worldchanging.com/book/</a><br />
<img src="http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/0810930951.01._AA240_SCLZZZZZZZ_V38646951_.jpg" /><br />
the blurb from the site:</p>
<div class="quote-msg">
<div class="quote-author">Quote:</div>
<p>"Worldchanging: A Users Guide for the 21st Century is a groundbreaking compendium of the most innovative solutions, ideas and inventions emerging today for building a sustainable, livable, prosperous future."<br />
"From consumer consciousness to a new vision for industry; non-toxic homes to refugee shelters; microfinance to effective philanthropy; socially responsible investing to starting a green business; citizen media to human rights; ecological economics to climate change, this is the most comprehensive, cutting-edge overview to date of what's possible in the near future -- if we decide to make it so."
</p></div>
    ]]></summary>
    <content type="html"><![CDATA[<p>I've just bought this book so I can read it when I get back to Aus for holidays. the World Changing site has heaps of useful articles so I'm hoping the book will too! </p>
<p><a href="http://www.worldchanging.com/book/" title="http://www.worldchanging.com/book/">http://www.worldchanging.com/book/</a></p>
<p><img src="http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/0810930951.01._AA240_SCLZZZZZZZ_V38646951_.jpg" /></p>
<p>the blurb from the site:</p>
<div class="quote-msg">
<div class="quote-author">Quote:</div>
<p>"Worldchanging: A Users Guide for the 21st Century is a groundbreaking compendium of the most innovative solutions, ideas and inventions emerging today for building a sustainable, livable, prosperous future."</p>
<p>"From consumer consciousness to a new vision for industry; non-toxic homes to refugee shelters; microfinance to effective philanthropy; socially responsible investing to starting a green business; citizen media to human rights; ecological economics to climate change, this is the most comprehensive, cutting-edge overview to date of what's possible in the near future -- if we decide to make it so."
</p></div>
    ]]></content>
  </entry>
  <entry>
    <title>freeNRG : notes from the edge of the dance floor</title>
    <link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://www.aliak.com/content/freenrg-notes-edge-dance-floor" />
    <id>http://www.aliak.com/content/freenrg-notes-edge-dance-floor</id>
    <published>2003-11-01T09:42:00+00:00</published>
    <updated>2010-07-13T03:57:54+01:00</updated>
    <author>
      <name>AliaK</name>
    </author>
    <category term="activism" />
    <category term="books" />
    <category term="collective" />
    <category term="community" />
    <category term="consciousness" />
    <category term="documentary" />
    <category term="documentation" />
    <category term="event" />
    <category term="festival" />
    <category term="indigenous" />
    <category term="installation" />
    <category term="internet" />
    <category term="interview" />
    <category term="media" />
    <category term="media art" />
    <category term="music artist biography" />
    <category term="music artists" />
    <category term="music resources" />
    <category term="outdoor" />
    <category term="outdoor party" />
    <category term="performance" />
    <category term="psychedelic culture" />
    <category term="psytrance" />
    <category term="publication" />
    <category term="releases" />
    <category term="social change" />
    <category term="sustainable living" />
    <category term="sydney" />
    <category term="techgnosis" />
    <category term="trance" />
    <category term="tribal" />
    <category term="underground" />
    <category term="writer" />
    <category term="writers" />
    <category term="writing" />
    <category term="music interviews" />
    <summary type="html"><![CDATA[<p>freeNRG : notes from the edge of the dance floor - AliaK<br />
    AliaK spoke with Graham St John regarding his new book about Australian electronic music community, travelling sound systems and DiY party culture.<br />
    GRAHAM ST JOHN : EDITOR AND COMPILER OF "freeNRG : notes from the edge of the dance floor" @ FRIGID (HOPETOUN HOTEL, SYDNEY)<br />
    SUNDAY 17 MARCH</p>
    ]]></summary>
    <content type="html"><![CDATA[<p>freeNRG : notes from the edge of the dance floor - AliaK</p>
<p>    AliaK spoke with Graham St John regarding his new book about Australian electronic music community, travelling sound systems and DiY party culture.</p>
<p>    GRAHAM ST JOHN : EDITOR AND COMPILER OF "freeNRG : notes from the edge of the dance floor" @ FRIGID (HOPETOUN HOTEL, SYDNEY)<br />
    SUNDAY 17 MARCH</p>
<p>    "freeNRG : notes from the edge of the dance floor" is a book about music - electronic music, the sounds, and methods of creating and sharing these sounds with other likeminded individuals. It's about people, the passionate people who live on the fringe of society celebrating electronic music with their DiY ideals and also the spiritualistic insights that music can bring. It's about technology, and how technology can be used to spread ideas and keep people informed. It's about information, information that cannot be suppressed by traditional media. And it's about history, the history of one sector of the Australian electronic music community, which to this day, hasn't been documented as completely as in this book. It's a book of great importance. Anyone who deems themselves passionate about electronic music should have a read and keep it as a reference as to how electronic music industry in Australia has come about.</p>
<p>    "freeNRG : notes from the edge of the dance floor" is an amazing book,  not only because of the topics covered, or the depth and breadth of research done by the contributors and Graham St John, but also because of the amount of personal insight gained from reading the ideas of the people interviewed. In great detail, the book delves into the undercurrents of one of the more active aspects of the Australian electronic music community, their social, ecological and technology based roots and leads the reader on a journey from which their ideas may be forever changed. Each chapter includes a comprehensive listing of references which, if the reader were to follow, would lead them on new paths of discovery and knowledge.</p>
<p>    Here is the transcript of a quick chat with Graham St John at the Sydney launch of freeNRG.</p>
<p>[speaker  key:]<br />
  ::: AliaK<br />
  &gt;&gt;&gt; Graham St John</p>
<p>  &gt;&gt;&gt; I'm Graham St John, the editor and compiler of "freeNRG - notes from the edge of the dance floor". I guess the best way to describe it is the fact that it's all about how art is raised to inspire the imagination, is mobilised in the service of a cause. The art being electronic music, techno music and the various aesthetics that orbit around electronic music throughout the 90s. The causes are many - from establishing s sense of  community, to intercultural reconcilement, to defending natural heritage. It's kind of an undercultural history, or a history of the underculture of the 90s, which has really been only documented in subterranean sort of formats - preaching to the converted. This is a book that hopes to reach a lot more people in the broader community.</p>
<p>  ::: Definitely, I don't think I've ever seen one written as an actual book, I've only seen articles on the websites and email lists so it's good to see. You've done a great deal of research for this work, cross-references and in-depth studies..</p>
<p>  &gt;&gt;&gt; It's a pretty solid compilation</p>
<p>  ::: How long did it take to compile?</p>
<p>  &gt;&gt;&gt; It was pretty miraculous really - it only took a little over about 14 months from conception to holding it in my hand. There`s an electronic version as well - it's also available as an e-book (pdf), so it can be experienced in an electronic format.</p>
<p>  ::: Will it have updates of future events and future studies?</p>
<p>  &gt;&gt;&gt; Well yeah, there's a possibility for a second print run as well. It's pretty uncertain territory, electronic publishing, e-book publishing, it`s never been successful in the past but I think there's an international tech-savvy readership for this type of thing and the very fact that there has not been this type of documentation of the culture of electronic music in Australia even though there's a lot of stuff coming out of the UK and their experiences there, and the States - this is the first compilation of such very inspiring stories.</p>
<p>  ::: Australia's got such a long history, such a tribal history, it seems sometimes that we haven't really delved into it as much as we could, but this book seems to do that?</p>
<p>  &gt;&gt;&gt; It does. Like I said, there's an underculture, a very vibrant thriving underculture that is captured in this book. The connection between politics and electronic music culture is the thing that`s inspired me, particularly Earthdream. Earthdream 2000 was the principle inspiration for the book</p>
    ]]></content>
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