We interview Eric Nakamura, publisher of Giant Robot magazine. Along with Martin Wong, the two began a long and earnest love affair with Asian popular culture and brought it to America with their publication and Giant Robot stores in New York, Los Angeles, and until April 26, 2011, San Francisco. The closing of the San Francisco location is a significant event, R.J. checks-in with Nakamura and they talk about art, music, and honest business acumen.
Our Apex colleague, Robynn Takayama, talked with Professor Balance about Filipino indie music in the Bay Area and in the Philippines, which is one section of the book Professor Balance is working on entitled, “Tropical Renditions: Popular Music and Performance in Filipino America (Working title).” And hear from this hardcore band from the Philippines!
April 20, 2011 marks the one year anniversary of the BP, or Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill. R.J. and guest producer, Khanh Pham report on the recent and nuanced developments with the Vietnamese community in New Orleans East, specifically Village of L’Est, or Versailles.
And, Bay Area soul singer Goapele is coming to Yoshi’s in San Francisco this weekend. Friday and Saturday, 8pm & 10pm shows and Sunday 7pm & 9pm. We have one pair of tickets to give away for the Sunday, May 1, 9 PM show. Listen to KPFA 94.1 FM at 7pm tonight and call in.
Community Calendar:
On Friday, April 29, the Asian Law Caucus is having their 39th anniversary dinner, featuring California Assembly member Warren Furutani as the keynote speaker at the Marriott Marquis in San Francisco.
Starting Friday, April 29, the 3rd I South Asian Film festival has teamed up with the San Francisco International Film Festival and is co-presenting a handful of films, including Marathon Boy, a documentary about a 6-year old who’s run more miles at his age than most in their lifetime. The documentary will be screening on April 29th, 30th and Tuesday, May 3rd. at Sundance Kabuki Cinemas in San Francisco.
On Friday, April 29, Violinist Anne Akiko Meyers performs at the opening benefit concert, Play for Japan USA at Woodside High School Performing Arts Center in Woodside. Doors open at 7PM, and tickets start at $35. All proceeds will go to the Japan disaster relief efforts through Ashinaga Fund, the American Red Cross, Give2Asia, and the Japan Center for International Exchange.
On Sunday, May 1, from 10AM to 5PM, Xianrui Curator and CCC Artistic Director Abby Chen will present at the California College of the Arts’ Visual and Critical Studies Symposium. This presentation is the culmination of CCA’s Graduate Program in Visual and Critical Arts, which Abby has been working towards for several years. She will present On the Edge of Culture, Two 1.5 Generation Artists in America, her specialty both in study at CCA and in practice through curatorial work at the Chinese Culture Center. The presentation will draw from the art of two XianRui artists, Stella Zhang (2010) and Zheng Chongbin (2011), as examples of a ‘new manifestation of cultural fluidity, constructed precisely as a result of dislocation and social difference.’ The event will be at California College of the Art’s Timken Lecture hall in San Francisco.
On Sunday, May 1, the Chinese Progressive Association, and other solidarity groups will be marching with workers throughout the world to celebrate International Workers’ Day and defend workers’ rights! Join in at 12 PM near 24th Street BART, look for the CPA Banner. Questions? Contact Ken Wang at ken@cpasf.org.
May is Asian Pacific Heritage Month! Join San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee with other leaders from the Asian Pacific American communities as they gather on Monday, May 2 at 5 PM in front of the War Memorial building, located across the street from San Francisco City Hall on Van Ness and Golden Gate Avenue. The Mayor will be giving awards at Herbst Theatre, and folks are encouraged to stay for the reception.
Join Us: Apex is calling on you! Do you want to be part of a dynamic team of reporters, activists, and DJs? Join our crew. We’re also looking for independent Asian American musicians to share your tunes with us. Give us your beats, your demos, your experimentations. Email us at apexexpress@kpfa.org
*In researching background and fact-checking for the BP oil spill:
National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling
http://www.oilspillcommission.gov/
This website contains the Commission’s Final Report and a Multimedia Presentation of the Commission’s Findings and Recommendations.
Vietnamese American Young Leaders Association of New Orleans
http://www.vayla-no.org
The Vietnamese American Young Leaders Associate of New Orleans (VAYLA-NO) is a youth-led, youth organizing and development, community-based organization in New Orleans dedicated to the empowerment of Vietnamese American and underrepresented youth through service, cultural enrichment, and positive social change.
Mary Queen of Viet Nam Community Development Corporation
http://mqvncdc.org
MQVN Community Development Corporation, Inc. (MQVN CDC) was established by community leaders in May 2006 to assist Vietnamese-Americans in New Orleans East rebuild their lives and their community after hurricane Katrina. In the immediate aftermath of hurricane Katrina, MQVN CDC played a leading role in providing emergency relief assistance as well as organizing Vietnamese-American residents to play an active role in the rebuilding of the community surrounding New Orleans East area.
MQVN CDC’s mission is to preserve and promote our unique diversity and improving the quality of life of residents in the Greater New Orleans area, beginning in New Orleans East. Together with community partners, our work encompasses health care, environmental and agricultural concerns, education, housing, social services, economic development and culture and the arts.
Viet Gulf Coast Solidarity Network
http://vietgulfcoast.wordpress.com/
The Viet Gulf Coast Solidarity Network is an effort that came out of the “Beyond 35 Years: Organizing in the Vietnamese Community” workshop at the 2010 US Social Forum. The workshops, facilitated by VietUnity members, brought together organizers and workers from VAYLA, MQVNCDC, VietUnity, CA Healthy Nail Salon Collaborative, Hope CDA, CAAV (NY) and individuals from Minnesota. After being educated about the conditions, needs, and organizing work currently going on in NO/Gulf regions, we broke out into two groups, with one focusing on what Gulf Coast solidarity work would like. From that small group, with input from VAYLA, Hope CDA and MQVNCDC, we identified that we could begin a solidarity network that supported in 3 main ways:
1. Communications support (getting the word out with a specific task)
2. Grassroots fundraising (to support grassroots organizing work)
3. Supporting the coordination of a training for trainers project to support the growth and sustainability of local leadership.
Gulf Coast Claims Facility (GCCF)
www.gulfcoastclaimsfacility.com
The GCCF accepts and where possible resolves claims of Individuals and Businesses for costs and damages incurred as a result of the Spill. In fulfilling these obligations, the GCCF and Mr. Feinberg as Claims Administrator are acting for and on behalf of BP in order to fulfill BP’s statutory obligations as a responsible party under OPA; however, the GCCF and Mr. Feinberg exercise their own judgment with respect to the evaluation and payment of claims.
NPR Report: Talk of the Nation : Many Gulf Residents Still Waiting On BP Fund Relief (04/20/2011)
http://www.npr.org/2011/04/20/135574677/many-gulf-residents-still-waiting-on-bp-fund-relief
One year after BP’s oil rig Deepwater Horizon exploded off the Louisiana coast, Gulf Coast industries, from fishing to tourism, are still reeling. Kenneth Feinberg, chair of BP’s $20 billion Deepwater Horizon Disaster Victim Fund, shares his views on the fund’s effectiveness and the claims process.
America’s Wetland: Causes of Loss
http://www.americaswetlandresources.com/background_facts/detailedstory/causes.html
This website is an overview of the extensive list of causes both natural and human-influenced of wetland depletion.
Restore the Gulf
http://www.restorethegulf.gov/
This government sponsored resource site has an online mapping tool that provides you with near real time information about the response and effort. There are filters that allow you to track prohibited fishing zones, to oil testing conducted daily.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/deepwater_horizon_oil_spill.htm
Website that contains updated information on the status of federal waters for fisherman. The archives contain maps the chart the change in the areas considered prohibited to fish.
US Department of Health and Human Services, US Food and Drug Administration: Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: Questions and Answers
http://www.fda.gov/food/foodsafety/product-specificinformation/seafood/ucm221563.htm
Website that responds to the frequently asked questions on seafood harvested in the Gulf Coast area.
NPR : Talk of the Nation : FDA Says Eat Gulf Seafood; Some Doubt Smell Test (08/03/2010)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128957145
The U.S. government continues to stand by its assertion that seafood from the Gulf of Mexico is safe. But some Gulf fishermen question the claim, and the “smell test” used to back it up. And in some areas, oil continues to wash up on protective booms and in marshes near fishing grounds.
US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons on the Gulf Coastline
http://www.epa.gov/bpspill/pahs.html
Informational website that discusses what the Hydrocarbons that Daniel refers to are, and how they’re analyzed and monitored.
Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry – Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs)
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tf.asp?id=121&tid=25
Website that explains what PAHs are, and how they could affect the human body.
Counter-Information: Has BP really cleaned up the Gulf Oil Spill? (J. Perez, 04/13/11)
http://counterinformation.wordpress.com/2011/04/13/has-bp-really-cleaned-up-the-gulf-oil-spill/
Article that discusses the opposing studies that counter the governments findings and open up more questions of accountability and environmental impact.
Alliance for Justice: Crude Justice
http://www.afj.org/connect-with-the-issues/the-corporate-court/crude_justice/
Website contains an extensive status report responding to critiques of the claims process, and the environmental impact of the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill.
A Village Called Versailles
http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/village-called-versailles/
Versailles, a tight-knit neighborhood on the edge of New Orleans, is home to the densest ethnic Vietnamese population outside of Vietnam. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, residents rebuild their homes — only to have them threatened by a toxic landfill planned in their neighborhood. As the community fights back, it turns a devastating disaster into a catalyst for change.
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