The Story of Lata

stephanie@outervoices.org (Outer Voices) — Sat, 24 May 2008 21:31:00 -0700

The Story of Lata, by Outer Voices, explores the efforts by the people of a remote part of Solomon Islands to preserve their traditional boat building culture and navigation. It explores traditional polynesian navigation in a region where the technology and knowledge is still intact. We listen to the older women who remember the old days of sailing, and who consider their role were this tradition to be revived. And we also consider the reality of modern life, which they are slowly being required to adapt to. How feasible is it to revive these ancient arts, which take time to learn?

Behind the whole story is the myth of Lata, which guides us into a profound understanding of the limitlessness of time and space so necessary to the navigators behind the polynesian navigation, and consider that our modern world could do well to be informed by the patience and durability which it required.

download Story of Lata mp3

Kawthoolei

stephanie@outervoices.org (Outer Voices) — Tue, 22 Aug 2006 09:23:00 -0700

www.outervoices.org.

In the Karen language, Kawthoolei is the name of a
mythical homeland in eastern Burma(Myanmar). The Karen
people have been struggling for control of this land
for nearly 60 years. This conflict between the Burmese
military regime and the Karen National Union is now
considered the world's longest running civil war.
There are numerous reports of ethnic cleansing, and
hundreds of thousands of Burmese and ethnic refugees
have flooded western Thailand, yet this conflict is
often overlooked by the western media.

Produced along the Thai-Burma border in the refugee
camps, medical clinics, and rebel military bases,
Kawthoolei attempts to demystify the complicated
history of Burma's ethnic groups, while focusing on
Karen women activists working for non-violent
solutions.

This documentary features interviews with Nobel
nominees Zipporah Sein and Dr. Cynthia Maung, as well
as several other women activists, observers,
humanitarian workers, and refugees.

Download Kawthoolei mp3.