tagged w/ Vanguard Journalism
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If you’re heading to the “Big Dance” this weekend—that is, the Super Bowl—grab a copy of the local independent weekly and learn how fucked up Florida is. This week’s issue of the Broward-Palm Beach New Times comes with a “Vice Guide” for Super Bowl revelers, which includes tips like “Scoring Coke like a Local.”
But if you’re scoring cocaine in South Florida, you might as well be sporting a five o’clock shadow, loafers and a flourescent sport coat. These days, everyone in South Florida knows that prescription drugs, particularly OxyContin and Xanax, is what everybody’s doing.
“As in the 80’s and 90’s cocaine was a big thing, now prescriptions have just exploded,” Sgt. Richard Pisanti of the Broward County Sheriff’s Office told Vanguard correspondent Mariana van Zeller last May.
Or as the New Times puts it in their “Vice Guide: Procuring Party Pills”:
“In Florida, OxyContin and Xanax aren't the new cocaine; they're coke plus heroin, pot, meth, and all hallucinogens combined.”
See, the New Times has got you covered. And the great thing about their guide to scoring prescription drugs is that after reading it you can just flip to the back to the paper and find 10 pages of advertisements for the pain clinic/Dr. Feelgoods they tell you supply the pills. You know, 10 pages of ad revenue that help pay for stories like where to get your pills. It’s a beautiful cycle.
I’ll give the New Times credit for at least disclosing some disturbing statistics about Florida’s prescription drug problem:
“In 2008, about half the illegal prescription drugs in this country came from the Sunshine State, according to the Drug Enforcement Agency…Three times as many people here die from prescription pills than from all other drugs combined, according to a Florida Medical Examiners Commission report that was published in 2008.”
But for a better picture of what’s going in the “Colombia of prescription drugs” check out the Vanguard documentary “The OxyContin Express.”
Watch the full episode at Current.com.
Or, of course, you can follow the New Times guide, learn for yourself—and hopefully not be one of the 11 people in Florida who OD everyday from pills.
Follow Darren Foster on Twitter: @fineyoungman.
If you’re heading to the “Big Dance” this... more
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From the News Blog: http://blogs.current.com/news/2010/01/25/sri-lanka-goes-to-the-polls/
What's the only thing that can tarnish your Presidential campaign as the leader who brought the end of a thirty year civil war? Is it allegations of human rights abuses? No, it's being challenged by the only other person who has a better claim to that title: your top general.
That's what's happening in Sri Lanka right now as voters head to the polls tomorrow. President Mahinda Rajapaksa is facing off against General Sarath Fonseka, the former commander of the Army. The poll so far has been marred by violence:
From the Guardian: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jan/25/sri-lanka-presidential-election
"More than 800 violent incidents and five deaths have been recorded in the run-up to the election, according to the independent Centre for Monitoring Election Violence."
What the poll seems not to have been marred by, however, is any sort of criticism of the government's conduct of the end of the war with the Tamil Tigers. Or of their so-far sketchy plans to provide resettlement to the thousands of Tamil refugees currently living in camps.
The Centre for Monitoring Election Violence is mapping reports of violence during the poll: http://cmev.wordpress.com/maps/
For some background on the situation Sri Lanka finds itself in as it casts its vote for a new leader, below is Vanguard: Sri Lanka: Notes from a War on Terror:From the News Blog:... more
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Cuban blogger Yoani Sanchez has developed quite a following in the US for her blog Generacion Y. Apparently now she can count President Obama among her fans. Sanchez managed to submit seven question to the President, which he answered this week and she posted on her blog. Obama congratulated her on her work:
"Your blog provides the world a unique window into the realities of daily life in Cuba. It is telling that the Internet has provided you and other courageous Cuban bloggers with an outlet to express yourself so freely, and I applaud your collective efforts to empower fellow Cubans to express themselves through the use of technology. The government and people of the United States join all of you in looking forward to the day all Cubans can freely express themselves in public without fear and without reprisals."
The questions focused on US-Cuba relations and the possibility of future dialogue. Obama kept the door open to dialogue with Cuba's government but said it would have to come with the chance to "create opportunities to advance the interests of the United States and the cause of freedom for the Cuban people." Sanchez also asked him specifically about the role of the internet in Cuban lives.
"QUESTION 6: YOU STRONGLY SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES. BUT, CUBANS CONTINUE TO HAVE LIMITED ACCESS TO THE INTERNET. HOW MUCH OF THIS IS DUE TO THE U.S. EMBARGO AND HOW MUCH OF IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CUBAN GOVERNMENT?
My administration has taken important steps to promote the free flow of information to and from the Cuban people particularly through new technologies. We have made possible greater telecommunications links to advance interaction between Cuban citizens and the outside world. This will increase the means through which Cubans on the island can communicate with each other and with persons outside of Cuba, for example, by expanding opportunities for fiber optic and satellite transmissions to and from Cuba. This will not happen overnight. Nor will it have its full effect without positive actions by the Cuban government. I understand the Cuban government has announced a plan to provide Cubans greater access to the Internet at post offices. I am following this development with interest and urge the government to allow its people to enjoy unrestricted access to the internet and to information. In addition, we welcome suggestions regarding areas in which we can further support the free flow of information within, from, and to Cuba."
FROM THE BLOG: http://blogs.current.com/news/2009/11/20/obamas-dialogue-with-a-cuban-blogger/
Vanguard's Adrian Baschuk was in Cuba earlier this year and though he was unable to meet with Yoani Sanchez, found that internet access for her, possibly Cuba's best-known blogger, was achieved by sneaking into hotels and uploading her posts.
http://current.com/groups/vanguard-cuba-revolution/
SOURCES:
http://www.desdecuba.com/generationy/?p=1179
http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2009/11/19/obama_replies_to_cuban_bloggerCuban blogger Yoani Sanchez has developed quite a following in the US for her blog... more
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Angola, with tens of thousands ex-patriate Chinese workers, is seeing a series of "mafia-style" violent attacks targeting the Chinese. From the BBC:
"Last month robbers reportedly poured boiling water on three Chinese workers in Luanda. In September businessman Xu Tonggou was murdered trying to resist a robbery. On the same day six armed men robbed the offices of a construction company, beating workers with batons and threatening them with AK-47s."
Mariana van Zeller went to Angola to look at growing Chinese investment in the country in Chinatown, Africa. Video below.
From the Blog: http://blogs.current.com/news/2009/11/13/anti-chinese-violence-in-angola/
Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8358919.stmAngola, with tens of thousands ex-patriate Chinese workers, is seeing a series of... more
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Vanguard correspondent Christof Putzel takes a behind the scenes look at the adult entertainment industry, examining its history and impact on the ever-changing face of new media.Vanguard correspondent Christof Putzel takes a behind the scenes look at the adult... more
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In this Peabody Award-winning edition of Vanguard, correspondent Mariana van Zeller travels to South Florida--the "Colombia of prescription drugs"--to expose a bustling pill pipeline that stretches from the beaches of Ft. Lauderdale to the rolling hills of Appalachia. "The OxyContin Express" features intimate access with pill addicts, prisoners and law enforcement as each struggles with a lethal national epidemic.
***Vanguard is Current TV's original documentary series. Led by correspondents Laura Ling, Mariana van Zeller, Christof Putzel, Adam Yamaguchi and Kaj Larsen, Vanguard features enterprising reports from around the globe. It airs every Wednesday at 10pm on Current TV. And you can view all Vanguard stories by visiting current.com/vanguard.***
Channel guide:
In the U.S.
DIRECTV 358
Comcast Nationwide 107
Dish Network 196
Time Warner: NY 103
Time Warner: LA 142
Time Warner: Other Cities: check local listings
AT&T U-verse Nationwide 189
Verizon FIOS 130
In the U.K.
Sky 183
Virgin Media 155
In Italy
Sky Italia 130In this Peabody Award-winning edition of Vanguard, correspondent Mariana van Zeller... more
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Adam Yamaguchi discusses Forest of Ecstasy during Vanguard's visit to Current SF
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Adam Yamaguchi introduces the Vanguard team during their visit to Current SF
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This week on infoMania Spike TV tells you how stupid people die, reality tv stars have trouble with English, Shark Week reminds us that sharks are out to kill all humans, Brett explores the strange phenomenon of YouTube haul videos, Bryan goes cruising for gay characters on television commercials, and Sergio counts down the top R&B jams on iTunes.
infoMania is a half-hour satirical news show that airs on Current TV. The show puts a comedic spin on the 24-hour chaos and information overload brought about by the constant bombardment of the media. Hosted by Conor Knighton and co-starring Brett Erlich, Sarah Haskins, Ben Hoffman, Bryan Safi and Sergio Cilli, the show airs on Thursdays at 10 pm Eastern and Pacific Times and can be found online at http://current.com/infomania/ or on Current TV. And make sure to check out our facebook profile for special features at http://infomaniafacebook.com.This week on infoMania Spike TV tells you how stupid people die, reality tv stars have... more
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Is the U.S. already at war with Iran? In "America's Secret War in Iran," Vanguard correspondent Mariana van Zeller travels to the Iraq-Iran border to investigate claims that the United States is supporting militant groups that are attacking Iran. In the rugged Qandil mountains, she meets with up with anti-Iranian guerillas who have been launching deadly raids against the Islamic Republic. A good percentage of the fighters are women, and Mariana accompanies a small group of them through what many believe has become the frontline of the U.S.'s secret war with Iran.Is the U.S. already at war with Iran? In "America's Secret War in... more
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For young Americans, the U.S. recession is a major bummer on our bank accounts and future. Where can we look to for advice? Enter Argentina, a country that went through its own economic crisis in 2001, and where we might be able to learn a thing or two -- even if it is 5,000 miles away from Wall Street.For young Americans, the U.S. recession is a major bummer on our bank accounts and... more
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tchang
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Current's Mariana van Zeller travels to one of the most unstable regions in the world - Nigeria's oil-rich Niger Delta. She investigates what's behind the growing number of kidnappings and attacks in Africa's largest oil producer and the US's fifth largest energy supplier.Current's Mariana van Zeller travels to one of the most unstable regions in the... more
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Japan, the world's second largest economy, is facing a demographic crisis that will shrink the population dramatically. The Japanese aren't having babies, and the country won't accept immigrants to help bolster the population. But Japan may have a unique solution --- Robots!
"Vanguard," airing weekly on Current TV Mondays at 9/8c, is a no-limits documentary series whose award-winning correspondents put themselves in extraordinary situations to immerse viewers in global issues that have a large social significance. Unlike sound-bite driven reporting, the show's correspondents, Adam Yamaguchi, Kaj Larsen, Christof Putzel and Mariana van Zeller, serve as trusted guides who take viewers on in-depth real life adventures in pursuit of some of the world's most important stories.
For more, go to http://current.com/vanguard.Japan, the world's second largest economy, is facing a demographic crisis that... more
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An interview with a prison OG who has spent have his lifetime going in and out of the system.
For more information watch the Vanguard episode, Getting Out Of Prison: http://current.com/items/89586411/getting_out_of_prison.htmAn interview with a prison OG who has spent have his lifetime going in and out of the... more
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Kaj Larsen goes on a search for modern day pirates in the straits of Malacca, one of the most trafficked seaborne trading routes in the world. Kaj talks to pirate trackers, sailors who have been attacked and visits infamous dens to find the pirates themselves.Kaj Larsen goes on a search for modern day pirates in the straits of Malacca, one of... more
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Kaj
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The Casa del Tunel art museum isn't just any museum celebrating Mexico's contemporary artists. In its previous incarnation, the museum was an actual cross-border tunnel used to smuggled drugs from Mexico into the U.S. The tunnel began in what was once a home and ended across the border in a San Ysidro parking lot. The tunnel has since been sealed and the house turned into a museum run by the Border Council of Arts and Culture "to create a new model at the U.S.-Mexico Border region for sustainable cultural development."
For more information about the drug wars in Mexico, watch the Vanguard episode, Narco War Next Door: http://current.com/items/89845362/narco_war_next_door.htmThe Casa del Tunel art museum isn't just any museum celebrating Mexico's... more
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Vanguard correspondents Christof Putzel and Kaj Larsen first ventured to
Somalia in the summer of 2006 during a brief period of fragile stability.
Shortly after they left, the US backed Ethiopian forces to invade Somalia
and drive out the ruling Islamic Court Union. The country has since plunged
back into war, sparking a surge of people to flee their homes. Forced by
violence and poverty, tens of thousands of Somalis risk their lives fleeing
Somalia by crossing the Gulf of Aden to reach Yemen. However, many never
survive the perilous journey.
For more information about Somali refugees in Yemen, watch the Vanguard episode, Beach of Death: http://current.com/items/89881249/beach_of_death.htmVanguard correspondents Christof Putzel and Kaj Larsen first ventured to
Somalia in... more
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Fleeing from years of civil unrest, Somali refugees risk their lives, traveling through shark and pirate-infested waters to find relative peace in Yemen. In a follow up to their Emmy-nominated documentary from Somalia in 2006, Christof Putzel and Kaj Larsen return to the Horn of Africa to investigate one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world.Fleeing from years of civil unrest, Somali refugees risk their lives, traveling... more
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Ruthless drug cartels in Mexico are battling against each other and against the government for control of the drug trade. 2008 was the most violent year in Mexico, with around 6,000 drug-related murders. 2009 looks like it could be even worse. And there are fears that Mexico's narco-violence could spread north of the border into the U.S. In this one-hour Vanguard report, Laura Ling travels to the border towns of Juarez and Tijuana, Mexico where drugs gangs are fighting for control of the drug routes into the United States. Ling also goes to the city of Culiacan in Sinaloa State, a region that's known as the birthplace of narco-trafficking in Mexico. Despite the 40,000 federal troops that are patrolling cities across Mexico, violence is increasing and the methods of killings are becoming even more brazen and grotesque. Ling speaks with gun dealers in El Paso, Texas and U.S. officials about the illegal smuggling of weapons into Mexico--90% of the weapons seized in Mexico have been traced back to the U.S. She examines the culture of corruption and lack of public trust in a police force that has become known for working with the cartels.
Vanguard is Current TV's award-winning documentary series. Whether it's half a world away or in our own backyard, Vanguard goes there to bring you stories about the most important issues of our time. Led by reporters Laura Ling, Christof Putzel, Mariana van Zeller, Adam Yamaguchi and Kaj Larsen, Vanguard airs on Wednesday at 10 pm Eastern and Pacific and can be found online at current.com/vanguard.Ruthless drug cartels in Mexico are battling against each other and against the... more
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