World Music Network

Should a corporation be able to patent a widely used naturally occuring compound? Multinational Nestle is having a go. Nestle has applied for a patent for the medicinal properties of a compound found in Nigella sativa, a kind of fennel, used for more than a thousand years in Chinese and Indian herbal medicine.How can a naturally occuring compound that has been in use for so long possibly be subject to a patent? For those who like me feel that this is not something that can be subject to corporate ownership please sign the petition here:

http://action.sumofus.org/a/nestle-nigella-sativa/?sub=taf

Marc Ribot’s Ceramic Dog release ‘Masters of the Internet’ which you can stream from the SPIN magazine’s website from this link: http://www.spin.com/articles/mark-ribot-ceramic-dog-slam-free-culture-masters-of-the-internet

It’s a diatribe to provoke debate with those who think downloading music illegally does not hurt musicians and creativity. What do you think? Here are some lyrics:

Download this music for free
We like it when you do
We don't have homes or families to feed
Our labour has no value
Content is our name
We are nothing but material fed into a machine to feed the Masters of the Internet

Cultural diversity is as important as biodiversity in ensuring a resilient and healthy planetary future –so began an article about the Ainu people of Japan reclaiming their cultural heritage in the latest issue of Resurgence (www.resurgence.org).  There are a lot of ideas in the one phrase and it’s been rattling around in my head since I stumbled across it. I agree with the three main concepts – world music network is all about promoting cultural diversity through music, as an avid hill walker with an interest in plants, biodiversity is close to my heart and who could not wish for a ‘resilient and healthy planetary future’? But does the comparison hold water? What do you think?

Enjoy this Asian carrot picking musical video exploring the connections between cultural diversity and biodiversity!