How much do you really know about Germans?

Why is going naked on a beach or in a public park in Germany okay and why are there restrictions here? Is the going-naked-movement gaining strength in Oregon and could Germany serve as a model? How do Germans deal with nudity and is there a difference between baring it in the eastern part of Germany versus the west? Germany has fully developed single payer healthcare, so why does a German who worked in Portland and went back to Germany yearn to return here? And then there's the World Cup.

Want more of this? Email amnews@kboo.org or get in touch with host Miriam Widman at diegermanstunde@gmail.com

Danke fuer das Zuhoeren!

Part of the day-long special programming on the Gulf oil disaster, this hour long forum examined the impact of oil spills on coastal and wetland habitats.  Hosted by Jacob Anderson-Minshall, the forum began with Tracy Chapman's Rape of the Earth and featured:

Dr Elise Graneck an Assistant Professor of  Environmental Sciences and Management at Portland State University with expertise on coastal and mangrove habitats. Graneck also participated in the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis Measuring examining the ecological, economic and social values of coastal habitats, and was able to give us an example of what is being lost in terms of the ecological and economic function of the Louisana wetlands.

Marilyn Latta with the California Coastal Conservancy, Latta is also the Project Manager of the San Francisco Bay Subtidal Habitat Goals Project that is developing a proposal for restoration efforts following the 2007 San Francisco Bay oil spill.

Dr. Richard Steiner  is a marine biologist and former University of Alaska fisheries extension agent who has witnessed the impact of oil on Alaska, and the Gulf--where he joined the conversation via phone and described devestating impacts on Gulf wetlands, ocean environments and wildlife.

Learn more about the Gulf Oil Disaster.

Paul Ceinfuegos spoke June 3rd, 2010 at the Village Building Convergence in Portland.  The essence of his talk is that these times call for very bold thinking and action to implement massive change.  He says it is the citizens of a democracy, we the people, that have the right to a government where the people rule!  

He points out that the emerging scientific consensus is that US needs to cut its greenhouse gases by 70 - 90% within 10 - 20 years or the world faces catastrophic climate disruption.  Corporate power and profiteering stand in the way.  Cienfuegos reminds us that corporate power has not always been so entrenched, and he provides examples of how communities are re-writing their charters to take their power back.

As Cienfuegos says, we need to stretch ourselves, imagine ourselves as the sovereign people who govern ourselves with no power or authority higher than ourselves!

The Village Building Convergence celebrates its 10 year anniversary in Portland, Oregon. The City Repair Project prepares to deliver a city wide campaign to renew and revitalize city intersections across Portland as a model for the nation.