This week the Long Talk to Treedom team wrapped up the final contextual packages for the show. We had our first mock show on Friday and we have made the necessary changes to make our show that much more spectacular! We'll be looking at food and water in res, as well as the importance of student activism.
Our dry run was scheduled for Saturday the 8th May 2010 where we heard and checked the running of our show to ensure that everything's polished and going smoothly. It went really well, and all that's left to do not is to sort out any last kinks to make sure it's perfect. Our final show will go on air on the 20th May 2010, but until then the environmentally-aware team is working extremely hard to ensure that our show is of a high and excellent standard.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Ashamed to be an Earthling
I recently watched a shockingly disturbing documentary about worldwide animal treatment. Earthlings, known as "the Vegan maker", contains the most horrifying images that I've ever been exposed to. It's scarier than any Hollywood-produced horror flick and much more difficult to watch. Maybe it's because it's not easy to see animals in pain, or because the viewer knows that these aren't special effects but actual images of excessive human cruelty against animals, but it's haunting. The documentary is narrated by Joaquin Phoenix and directed by Shaun Monson.
Apparently we use animals for five different purposes: Food, Clothing, Research, Entertainment and as Pets. Each industry is as disgusting as the next.
Animals are so easily exploited. They have no voice with which to defend themselves, and living in ignorance is no excuse for us to be doing nothing. Every time you buy a pair of leather shoes or eat steak, every time you buy a puppy from a pet store, you're actively supporting the industry behind it. It's so easy for us to consider animals as being beneath us, but they feel pain and alienation in the same way that humans do. Personally, I don't see how we can be superior to them if we're the only species on the planet to create industries that systematically torture other living beings for money and luxuries. When I see an animal being skinned alive, or a dog being placed in a garbage truck to be crushed with our trash, that's when it's not ok anymore. There is no excuse for us to be doing nothing, when it's so easy to change our lifestyles.
Apparently we use animals for five different purposes: Food, Clothing, Research, Entertainment and as Pets. Each industry is as disgusting as the next.
Animals are so easily exploited. They have no voice with which to defend themselves, and living in ignorance is no excuse for us to be doing nothing. Every time you buy a pair of leather shoes or eat steak, every time you buy a puppy from a pet store, you're actively supporting the industry behind it. It's so easy for us to consider animals as being beneath us, but they feel pain and alienation in the same way that humans do. Personally, I don't see how we can be superior to them if we're the only species on the planet to create industries that systematically torture other living beings for money and luxuries. When I see an animal being skinned alive, or a dog being placed in a garbage truck to be crushed with our trash, that's when it's not ok anymore. There is no excuse for us to be doing nothing, when it's so easy to change our lifestyles.
Friday, April 30, 2010
One Step at a Time
This has been a great week for the Long Walk to Treedom team and not just because Earth Day fell into it. With each member currently underway and busily interviewing all the relevant people, my aspirations for the final show is increasing by the day. We may not have planted a forest this week but this team has definitely been very busy searching for sound advice and ways that we can better the environment together!
Mike, a valuable member of the team has been working on Adobe Audition 1.5 to better his skills as the techie of the group. He is planning to interview Dr Gambiza, a prominent environmental lecturer here at Rhodes University, his environmental rep for his residence and Alex Higgens, a very opinionated friend of his.
Candy spoke to Noni Stamper, her environmental rep for Hobson House. She has decided to take this on as her main topic whereby she is continuing this investigation to find out how the Hobson community feel about Noni’s work and the environmental crisis in general.
Jonny, the other valuable member of the two-man techie team will also be interviewing Dr. Gambiza the environmental science lecturer at Rhodes University. Jonny feels that this individual has extensive knowledge of the scientific issues regarding the poor quality of water we are currently experiencing in Grahamstown. He will allow for a package that will enlighten listeners who want to hear a more biological side of things.
Avy has taken it upon herself to investigate the issues in residences that spring from financial inequalities, yet she is relating it environmental issues. This is evident in aspects such as double rooms whereby only one of the students can afford to buy bottled water whereas the other student is left with no choice but to drink the water. This investigation will look specifically at these differences as well as the responses that have been implemented.
Danelle, our marketer spent this past week crafting out her own story pitches that she believes maintain a high standard, suitable for our final radio talk. She has also kept her ear out for appropriate jingles for our show
I, Aimee have spoken to two students as I am looking for the opinions of the everyday average students with regards to the water crisis and the high consumption of meat in the food halls. We will be able to see firsthand how the students are dealing with these problems. This will also be supplemented with an interview from the kitchen staff from the Hobson Food Hall, as they will provide expert analysis on why there is so much meat meals booked.
Mike, a valuable member of the team has been working on Adobe Audition 1.5 to better his skills as the techie of the group. He is planning to interview Dr Gambiza, a prominent environmental lecturer here at Rhodes University, his environmental rep for his residence and Alex Higgens, a very opinionated friend of his.
Candy spoke to Noni Stamper, her environmental rep for Hobson House. She has decided to take this on as her main topic whereby she is continuing this investigation to find out how the Hobson community feel about Noni’s work and the environmental crisis in general.
Jonny, the other valuable member of the two-man techie team will also be interviewing Dr. Gambiza the environmental science lecturer at Rhodes University. Jonny feels that this individual has extensive knowledge of the scientific issues regarding the poor quality of water we are currently experiencing in Grahamstown. He will allow for a package that will enlighten listeners who want to hear a more biological side of things.
Avy has taken it upon herself to investigate the issues in residences that spring from financial inequalities, yet she is relating it environmental issues. This is evident in aspects such as double rooms whereby only one of the students can afford to buy bottled water whereas the other student is left with no choice but to drink the water. This investigation will look specifically at these differences as well as the responses that have been implemented.
Danelle, our marketer spent this past week crafting out her own story pitches that she believes maintain a high standard, suitable for our final radio talk. She has also kept her ear out for appropriate jingles for our show
I, Aimee have spoken to two students as I am looking for the opinions of the everyday average students with regards to the water crisis and the high consumption of meat in the food halls. We will be able to see firsthand how the students are dealing with these problems. This will also be supplemented with an interview from the kitchen staff from the Hobson Food Hall, as they will provide expert analysis on why there is so much meat meals booked.
I have a dream...
Twenty-one chicken dishes a week from cruel chicken farms, arsenic infused water and ignorance of the environmental issues that haunt the corridors of Rhodes residences. The Long Talk to Treedom is a dynamic journalism group geared at acknowledging, and potentially solving the environmental issue in Rhodes University residences. Nothing has escaped the beady eyes of this group who have seeked the experts in an attempt to combat this issue!
This group wanted to go beyond the “Keep it Green” posters and Ronnie Recycling, instead our main focus has been placed on the dire state of the Grahamstown water, the issue of food in res both with regards to too much meat consumption and wastage as well as down to the solutions of how we as students can do our little bit to help improve the environment, collectively we can all make a difference. Our show compromises of more than just the environmental issues that we are inundated with every day; our task is to find solutions that can be implemented by the Rhodes students residing in residence. Thus we fit under the series banner “Home Affairs” well because we are bringing this issue home (res) and trying to find an accessible alternative to our ghastly living habits.
With Johnny and Mike as the sound technicians, the creative geniuses behind the marketing front, Candy and Danelle, myself, Aimee as the producer and the soothing, investigative voice of Avi, this group really knows how to talk green even if our water isn’t all that clean!
This group wanted to go beyond the “Keep it Green” posters and Ronnie Recycling, instead our main focus has been placed on the dire state of the Grahamstown water, the issue of food in res both with regards to too much meat consumption and wastage as well as down to the solutions of how we as students can do our little bit to help improve the environment, collectively we can all make a difference. Our show compromises of more than just the environmental issues that we are inundated with every day; our task is to find solutions that can be implemented by the Rhodes students residing in residence. Thus we fit under the series banner “Home Affairs” well because we are bringing this issue home (res) and trying to find an accessible alternative to our ghastly living habits.
With Johnny and Mike as the sound technicians, the creative geniuses behind the marketing front, Candy and Danelle, myself, Aimee as the producer and the soothing, investigative voice of Avi, this group really knows how to talk green even if our water isn’t all that clean!