The Chamoru people of Guahan

June 19, 2008
by Rodney Olsen
6 Comments

Guam.jpgThe Chamoru people of the island we know as Guam have waged a long struggle for an act of self-determination as a significant step in their struggle to protect their land and culture from the effects of militarisation.

Their movement for non-violent social change in their homeland is largely unknown here in Australia.

The island has served as a military base for many years and now plans are underway to increase the military presence amongst these peaceful people.

Guahan (the indigenous name for Guam) is considered to be an ideal base since it is about three hours flying time or two to three days by ship from Japan, Okinawa, Indonesia and the Philippines. Flying to China or North Korea from the West Coast of the United States takes 13 hours, from Guahan it takes four. A carrier group based at Guahan could reach Taiwan in two days.

Guahan is strategically located close to several of the worlds most important sea lanes, such as the Strait of Malacca, through which some 50% of the world’s oil passes each year.

Dr Lisa Natividad and Julian Aguon of Guam joined me during my morning programme on 98.5 Sonshine FM this morning to talk about the situation and what we can do about it. If you’d like to be more informed about the plight of the Chamoru people just click the play button on the audio player at the bottom of this post.



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Leonardo da Vinci

May 1, 2008
by Rodney Olsen
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LeonardoSelfPortrait.jpgLeonardo da Vinci was passionately dedicated to scientific studies. His manuscripts are full of ingenuous solutions to practical problems of his time.

The remarkable thing is that he wasn’t just limited to his own time period, he was able to imagine future possibilities such as flying machines and automation. Amazing considering that he lived over 550 years ago. His anatomy drawings are still used today.

He was a musician, artist, town planner and so much more. I’m told he also played polo. He reminds me of that kid in the class who would make you jealous because he could do anything he set his mind to do.

Historical documents reveal that he commissioned local artisans to create some of his inventions. Unfortunately none of the original machines have survived and many of his inventions were forgotten. However, the last fifty years has seen a revival of interest in the work of Leonardo da Vinci.

The Da Vinci Machines Exhibition is in Perth until the 21st of July with many of da Vinci’s machine recreated by a new breed of artisans. The exhibition is interactive, giving visitors the opportunity to get hands on with a lot of the machines.

During my radio programme on 98.5 Sonshine FM this morning I spoke to Tom Rizzo who is managing the exhibition. You can find out more about this great man and the exhibition by clicking play on the audio player at the bottom of this post.



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Hearts break across Australia

April 28, 2008
by Rodney Olsen
5 Comments

DeanGeyerRodneyOlsen.JPGIf you listen carefully you can hear the fragile hearts of teenage girls across Australia breaking and crumbling as they hear the news that Australian Idol finalist, Dean Geyer, is engaged.

The love of his life is one half of The Veronicas, Lisa Origliasso.

News.com.au broke the news a short time ago with their story Veronicas’ twin and Idol engaged.

The couple, who have been together for a year, released a statement today to announce their news.

“Dean Geyer and Lisa Origliasso, together with their families, are delighted to announce they are engaged,” the statement said.

“The couple have been together since April 2007 and are thrilled to share their news.”

The photo in this post is of Dean and me when he joined me in the studio at 98.5 Sonshine FM in June last year. You can hear the interview from that visit by clicking the play button on the audio player at the bottom of this post.

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Brandi Carlile in Perth

March 28, 2008
by Rodney Olsen
2 Comments

Rodney_Brandi.jpgIt’s hard to believe that the young lady who joined me in the studio this morning could have such a big voice.

Brandi Carlile has a big, big voice and it was a pleasure to talk to her today during my morning radio programme on 98.5 Sonshine FM.

If you’re not familiar with her music you owe it to yourself to check out the video clip for her song, The Story.

Brandi is a gifted singer/songwriter who grew up learning to make her own entertainment, camping and hiking in the nearby woods and teaching herself to sing. She grew up listening to the classic country music favourites of her parents, making her stage debut at the age of eight after she was taken to a local country radio show by her mother.

At 17, Brandi picked up the guitar, and began playing anywhere she could get a gig. While playing clubs, she encountered a band called the Fighting Machinists, featuring twin brothers Tim Hanseroth on guitar and Phil Hanseroth. She became an instant fan and when the group broke up, she persuaded the Hanseroth twins to form a group with her. They’ve been together ever since.

In 2005 Brandi Carlile was signed to Columbia Records, releasing a self-titled album later that same year. The album earned great reviews, and she was named one of 2005’s “Artists to Watch” by Rolling Stone. In 2006 she began work on her second Columbia album, produced by T-Bone Burnett. Titled The Story, the album was released in April last year.

Her music was showcased to a wider audience when Grey’s Anatomy used three of her songs: “Tragedy,” “What Can I Say,” and “Throw It All Away”.

In April 2007, Grey’s Anatomy debuted her single, The Story.

Brandi worked with Reverb, a non-profit environmental organization, during her 2007 tour.

Brandi Carlile is in Perth, Western Australia, for a concert, supporting Maroon 5.

If you’d like to hear our chat just click play on the audio player at the bottom of this post.

(Bio info thanks to Billboard and Wikipedia.) 



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Miracles

March 27, 2008
by Rodney Olsen
3 Comments

HE_IS_RISEN.jpgPeople have been debating miracles for years. Are they real? Can they still happen today?

I’m sure there are good points for both sides of the argument but it’s not something I can debate. I’ve experienced a miracle of healing myself so I have no option but to believe.

My regular Wednesday morning guest on 98.5 Sonshine FM is Ross Clifford who is the Principal of Morling College in New South Wales and current President of the Baptist Union of Australia. Each week we chat about a range of issues relating to spirituality and belief.

Last week, in the lead up to Good Friday, we discussed the trials of Jesus and the injustice of those trials. This week it was time to look at the miracle of the empty tomb.

Do you believe the miracles of the Bible actually happened? Did Jesus truly rise from the dead?

Yesterday we discussed miracles from the scriptures and then moved to modern day miracles.

If we believe in the miracles in the Bible do we still have faith that miracles can happen today?

Ross and I discussed some modern day miracles and the experiences that we’ve both had.

My experience happened in 1987 on my first ever bicycle ride across Australia. I’d never done any long distance riding before that and so I had set my saddle too low. The added strain of days of riding between 160 and 200 kilometres a day took its toll a week or so into the ride. My knees were severely damaged.

We adjusted the saddle but the damage had already been done.

The pain got worse every day. It was excruciating.

As we rode into one town halfway across the country I was in tears with pain in both knees. I knew that I couldn’t ride any further with that level of pain.

That night I prayed that God would ease back the pain just enough for me to continue riding the next day. I was now totally dependent on him. If the pain was still as intense the next day I would be able to take no further part in the fundraising ride I was on.

When I woke up I started preparing for the day. Then it hit me. The pain hadn’t reduced just a little … it was gone. My knees were working perfectly normally with not even a hint of pain. This had been an all-consuming pain that was getting increasingly worse. Things like that don’t just disappear.

If you want to hear my discussion with Ross just click play on the audio player at the bottom of this post.

I’d be interested to read your thoughts on miracles and of any miracles that you’ve experienced.



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