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The Blue Continent Podcast

The Blue Continent Podcast

By Brennan Pürtzer

Veteran journalist and international development expert Brennan Pürtzer hosts interviews with global innovators addressing issues the world over.
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BCP.E15: Fresh Ministries CEO discusses food security and hunger eradication in USVI and beyond

The Blue Continent PodcastAug 14, 2020

00:00
36:46
The Swiss vote on holding corporations accountable for their international subsidiaries

The Swiss vote on holding corporations accountable for their international subsidiaries

In late 2020, Switzerland voted on a relatively new kind of legislation, a bill would have enforced human rights on multinational corporations based in Switzerland, which has more corporate headquarters per capita than any other nation on earth. It would have made corporations liable for offences carried out by their foreign subsidiaries and subcontractors. The vote failed to reach the necessary thresholds, but was notable in the question it posed, and how close it came to coming into effect. Today we speak with andreas missbach of "Public Eye", one of the most vocal interest groups lobbying for the passage of this legislation.

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Music for this episode was provided by swiss jazz musicians Mathias Ruegg, Charly Antolini, and Nik Bartsch - if you're interested in their music, please check them out!

Feb 26, 202118:12
BCP: A new way to organize Nigerian farmers into a competitive block
Feb 14, 202124:54
A vision from Barbados: What could a collaborative concept for a sustainable food environment look like today?

A vision from Barbados: What could a collaborative concept for a sustainable food environment look like today?

Guest: Barbados Chef & sustainable food advocate John Hunte.  John has been engaged in building a sustainable food system for his island of Barbados, and several years ago presented this idea in a TedX talk from Bridgetown - how to conceptualise his entire island as a single farm environment, and make nutritious food available to everyone. 

https://www.slowfoodbarbados.org/

Oct 19, 202015:35
What is "biogarmentry?"

What is "biogarmentry?"

Brennan and designer Roya Aghighi discuss the future of fashion and her pioneering work in the field of biogarmentry. Learn more here:

https://www.royaaghighi.com/biogarmentry.html

Oct 19, 202032:17
Estonia's Digital Nomad Visa gives online workers an option to perform work in Nordic country

Estonia's Digital Nomad Visa gives online workers an option to perform work in Nordic country

Estonia's e-Residency managing director Ott Vatter guests with Brennan to discuss the opportunities available to live and work in Estonia via their new Digital Nomad visa program -- a first-of-its kind innovation.


Oct 01, 202018:26
BCPod: St Croix' Research & Tech Park attracts innovative employers who contribute to the island

BCPod: St Croix' Research & Tech Park attracts innovative employers who contribute to the island

Yihan Wang is the business development advisor for US Virgin Islands' Research And Technology Park. Here they attract innovative tech companies with a vision of developing sciences which make sense here, and utilizing them to spur unique types of growth for the islands.

https://www.uvirtpark.net/

Sep 23, 202017:31
BCP: The future of energy in The Caribbean, with RMI's Chris Burgess

BCP: The future of energy in The Caribbean, with RMI's Chris Burgess

RMI's Director of Projects Chris Burgess discusses how the Rocky Mountain Institute is helping Caribbean nations make near and long term investments to improve their sustainable energy infrastructure, and how the combination of renewable resources and high traditional energy costs creates an environment where progress can be self-funded.

https://rmi.org/

Sep 18, 202023:39
BCP: Indian boutique upcycling enterprise brings a revolution in waste and self-worth
Sep 09, 202035:36
BCP: A powerful hyper-efficient solar technology comes on the market from Swiss-Serbian group

BCP: A powerful hyper-efficient solar technology comes on the market from Swiss-Serbian group

Brennan speaks with Albert Engbers of the Swiss-Serbian solar company Aeros Energie. The company utilizes a new application of the technology to utilize hyper-efficient thermal output. He says it's perfect for application in desalination plants or on islands.  
https://areosenergie.com/ae/eng/

Sep 02, 202020:23
BCP: Kari Eliassen of the Norwegian Refugee Council discusses the ongoing Cameroon conflict

BCP: Kari Eliassen of the Norwegian Refugee Council discusses the ongoing Cameroon conflict

As a guest on The Blue Continent Podcast, Guest Kari Eliassen of The Norwegian Refugee Council explains the suffering caused by the world's most under-reported conflict in Cameroon, and what the Norwegian Refugee Council is doing to provide support for affected people.

Aug 26, 202015:39
BCP LIVE: Master Vodka Distiller Art Wollenweber explains his company's community consciousness on the Island of St Croix, USVI

BCP LIVE: Master Vodka Distiller Art Wollenweber explains his company's community consciousness on the Island of St Croix, USVI

Brennan interviews Art Wollenweber of Mutiny Island Vodka of St Croix about the 1 year old company's role in their community. The company responded to the Covid crisis by adapting to produce the world's only commercial hand sanitizer made from breadfruit - and making it available to the whole of the US Virgin Islands.  (Apologies for the poor audio quality -- we thought our earpiece mics were picking it up, but they were not)

Aug 19, 202024:04
BCP.E15: Fresh Ministries CEO discusses food security and hunger eradication in USVI and beyond

BCP.E15: Fresh Ministries CEO discusses food security and hunger eradication in USVI and beyond

Rev. Dr. Robert Lee, III, of Fresh Ministries talks with Brennan about the history of his non-profit and their philosophy of engagement in Jacksonville and around the world. His team has led efforts to fight Aids in Africa, as well as holy land pilgrimages that actually facilitate cross cultural understanding. 

Aug 14, 202036:46
BCP.E14: Masimba from Zimbabwe describes how his charity Rebirth Trust helps ex-cons and the planet
Jul 28, 202009:07
BCP.12: The emerging global markets of tomorrow! Author Gavin Serkin discusses trends and future market predictions

BCP.12: The emerging global markets of tomorrow! Author Gavin Serkin discusses trends and future market predictions

Guest Gavin Serkin, CEO of New Markets Media & Intelligence chats with Brennan in a wide-ranging conversation that traverses the globe from Ghana, Nigeria, Côte D'Ivoire, Myanmar, Ethiopia, Sri Lanka and Ukraine to Vietnam. 

Gavin and Brennan discuss the characteristics that spell success in emerging economies, as well as the minefields that befall any best laid plans.

Jul 28, 202041:21
BCP.13: Dr. Bianchini discusses the science of "Green Chemistry" and the future of asphalt

BCP.13: Dr. Bianchini discusses the science of "Green Chemistry" and the future of asphalt

In a wide ranging discussion, Dr. Bianchini of Collaborative Aggregates explains what "Green Chemistry" is, and how additives can be used to reduce the ecological costs of road construction.

Jul 20, 202020:35
TIME TRAVEL! Special BBC World Report from the Year 2045: looking back on The Coronavirus 25 years later

TIME TRAVEL! Special BBC World Report from the Year 2045: looking back on The Coronavirus 25 years later

The BBC world service provides thoughts and analysis from across the world. In today's special edition, we look back 25 years, at the Coronavirus, which affected the entire planet in the year 2020, and changed the international power dynamic, providing a bookend on America's supreme influence.

Jul 12, 202006:18
BCP.E11: Thinking Huts CEO Maggie Grout plans the building of 3D printed schools in Madagascar
Jul 05, 202010:14
E.10: Ex-Oxfam USA president Ray Offenheiser discusses the future of global development and current trends
Jun 27, 202047:23
E.09: Girish Shivakumar of Mission Shunya describes sustainable tech in India today
Jun 22, 202021:33
BONUS: Mourning the passing of Rupert Hine, 72, composer of the Blue Continent Podcast theme music
Jun 16, 202003:40
BCPod E08: Guest René Post of the Worldview Foundation describes work to restore Burmese mangroves
Jun 09, 202026:45
SPECIAL EDITION: Witness recounts violent riot police attacks in DC (June 1, 2020)

SPECIAL EDITION: Witness recounts violent riot police attacks in DC (June 1, 2020)

In this special edition of the Blue Continent Podcast, Brennan speaks with Laura Dodson, a former US Peace Corps response volunteer (Philippines). Dodson was near Lafayette Square on Monday, June 1, 2020, when federal riot police charged peaceful protestors and clergy, spraying them with tear gas to clear the path for President Trump to pose for a photo op with a bible outside of St. John's Church. Dodson recounts her experience in detail.

Jun 07, 202012:20
BCPod E07: Guest Nelson Boateng, director of Nelplast, innovative plastic waste solution
Jun 06, 202009:56
Blue Continent Pod E06: Guest Fron Nahzi from the Global Dev. Experiment Podcast

Blue Continent Pod E06: Guest Fron Nahzi from the Global Dev. Experiment Podcast

Brennan Speaks with Fron Nahzi, an innovative executive with more than 25 years of demonstrated successes in expanding not-for-profit and higher education's global reach and impact by establishing partnerships with US and international universities, NGOs, governments and businesses, and developing successful fundraising strategies. Fron apologizes that the development community didn't know to focus on climate issues over the past 30 years of development, and the two discuss some localized issues affecting governing in The Balkans.

Jun 02, 202028:20
Blue Continent Pod E05: Chocolate Talk with Oliver Nieburg of The Sustainable Food & Drink Podcast
May 29, 202040:30
Blue Continent Pod: Ep04: Guest Dr. Bob Huish from The Global Development Primer (GDP) Podcast

Blue Continent Pod: Ep04: Guest Dr. Bob Huish from The Global Development Primer (GDP) Podcast

The Blue Continent Podcast speaks with Dr. Bob Huish, professor of international development studies professor at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. They discuss global health, and evaluate different countries' success or lack thereof in the context of each country's underlying health condition. They discuss US-Cuba relations, and Dr. Bob provides a deep historical assessment of the development of the WHO and multilateral health institutions.

Musical selections from: Machito (Cuba) , Ravi Shankar, The North Korean propagandists, Vinogradov, Tanzania's Vijana Jazz Band, Frank Zappa, Ghana's Guy Warren, Cuba's Irakere, and Venezuela's Marco Grandos.

May 25, 202030:22
BCP: E03: Talking Sustainable Energy in the developing world with guest Hans-Martin Førsund of the Norwegian International Development Co.

BCP: E03: Talking Sustainable Energy in the developing world with guest Hans-Martin Førsund of the Norwegian International Development Co.

The Blue Continent Podcast speaks with Hans-Martin Førsund, who has more than 30 years of experience from public and private sectors, all over the world, including decades of work in maritime policy development.  He's been a project manager, consultant and an entrepreneur, always focused on sustainability and waste reduction.  Hans-Martin discusses the acute need for sustainable electric systems in the developing world, and how his organization is providing much-needed support.

May 21, 202024:24
May 20, 2020

May 20, 2020

May 20, 202000:22
E02: Hawaiian legacy reforestation initiative's Jason Ho’opai talks radical innovation in forestry

E02: Hawaiian legacy reforestation initiative's Jason Ho’opai talks radical innovation in forestry

The Hawaiian legacy reforestation initiative is a nonprofit organization working since 2014 to reforest endemic trees and restore native habitat for wildlife, including Koa, Ohi’a, naio, and others. Their director of the board, Jason Ho’opai speaks with Brennan about the organization, its partnerships, goals, and the future potential of their innovative self-sustaining model.
May 17, 202024:16
The Blue Continent Podcast, E01: University of Adelaide's Simon Lacey discusses International trade

The Blue Continent Podcast, E01: University of Adelaide's Simon Lacey discusses International trade

Distinguished Australian international trade advisor and University of Adelaide lecturer Simon Lacey speaks with host Brennan Purtzer about concerns and realities of global trade pacts, the weak points of agreements, and the difficulty in trying to predict anything American President Trump may try to do. Prof Lacey discusses how American leadership under Trump has hurt America's global status at 18:11 - 18:57.

Global Development.

May 10, 202034:51
Welcome, introduction to the new series.

Welcome, introduction to the new series.

Brennan welcomes his audience to the new series of the Blue Continent Podcast
May 04, 202000:25