Andres Conteris - from Honduras. Coup regime changes President

3.04 Mb. 64 kbps mono 6 minutes 39 seconds

Andres Conteris who has spent the last 4 months with President Mel Zelaya trapped inside the Brazilian Embassy saw the appointment of the coup regime's new de facto President, and 'Mel' Zelaya leave the country on January 27. Zelaya received a 'safe conduct' to fly to the Dominican Republic with a promise that he would 'be back'. Meanwhile the Resistance Front ignored the poorly attended changeover ceremony for the incoming 'President' while a crowd of 250,000 converged on the airport to see Mel Zelaya off in an act of support and solidarity.

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Original audio source (AndresConterisHonduras31_Jan_2010.mp3)

Cuba - Julie Webb interviews prize winner

14.7 Mb. 320 kbps mono 6 minutes 27 seconds

Juan Flores was awarded the Casa de las Americas 2009 Premio Extraordinario de Estudios Sobre Los Latinos en los Estados Unidos for his latest book Bugalú y otros guisos: ensayos sobre culturas latinas en Estados Unidos . 

Short review: The Diaspora Strikes Back - The eminent ethnic and cultural studies scholar Juan Flores examines what happens to the home country when it is being constantly fed by emigrants returning from abroad. He looks at how 'Nuyoricans' (Puerto Rican New Yorkers) have transformed their home country, introducing hip hop and modern New York culture to the Caribbean island.

Bio:Juan Flores (Ph.D., German Studies, Yale University) is Professor of Latino Studies in the Department of Social and Cultural Analysis at New York University. Dr. Flores’ teaching, research, and publications center on Puerto Rican Studies, social and cultural theory, popular music, theory of Diaspora and transnational communities, and Afro-Latino culture. His many publications include Divided Borders: Essays on Puerto Rican Identity (1993), Cortijo’s Wake (2004), and From Bomba to Hip-Hop: Puerto Rican Culture and Latino Identity (2000). His current projects include: Companion to Latino Studies (co-edited with Renato Rosaldo). He was recently awarded the Casa de las Americas Extraordinary Prize for studies on Latinos in the United States for his book Bugalu y otros guisos: ensayos sobre culturas latinas en Estados Unidos .

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Original audio source (Juan_Flores.mp3)

Timor - Hera Power Plant: Charles Scheiner

4.65 Mb 64 kbps mono 10 minutes 10 seconds

Charles Scheiner, working in Timor Leste for the last ten years was present at the ceremony to begin the construction of the controversial Hera electricity generating plant. Now years behind completion it is supposed to provide Timor with a comprehensive, reliable electricity supply. But at what price? And is it what Timor really needs right now?

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Original audio source (cscheiner_28_Jan_2010.mp3)

Honduras - Presidential changeover; Karen Spring

12.1 Mb 256 kbps stereo 6 minutes 51 seconds.

Karen Spring of Rights Action talks about the lead up to the changeover of the Presidency in Honduras. There is much speculation about the fate of the legally elected President whose term ends on January 27 and the position of the Resistance Front. Karen also reviews some aspects of the human rights situation in Honduras under the coup regime and the changeover of the Presidency. Karen has investigated the destruction of Gariifuna indigenous community radio station 'Coco Radio' and the people who are believed to be behind it.

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Original audio source (KarenSpringJan23_2010.mp3)

Honduras Garifuno Radio trashed! - Ricardo Salgado

8.1 Mb. 128kbps mono 8 minutes 50 seconds

Ricardo Salgado, community worker and researcher reports on the destruction of the community radio of the indigenous Garifuno people on the Caribbean coast of Honduras. Supporters of the coup want to turn indigenous community land to developers for tourism. Meanwhile, the rest of the country speculates on the fate of the legitimately elected President Zelaya (trapped inside the Brazilian Embassy for the last five months) when the de facto government assigns the presidency to Pepe Lobos, who won an election in November that was boycotted by the majority of the people and a legitimacy recognised by only a very few.

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Original audio source (RicardoSalgadoJan23_2010.mp3)

Timor Leste - Wesley Smith on sustainability

15.3 Mb. 128 kbps 16minutes 45 seconds

Robert ('Wes') Wesley Smith has been an activist for East Timorese independence since 1975. Recently (January 2010) he made one of his many visits and spent several weeks touring the countryside and promoting sustainable energy and agricultural practices. He is critical of some of the development policies of the current government.

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Original audio source (WesTimor20_Jan_2010.mp3)