StoriesSince the end of WWII, Japanese politicians have apologized for atrocities committed against a number of countries. What are they apologizing for now?
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Seeker Stories finds arresting and unexpected stories in a diverse and changing world. Through short docs, beautiful photographs, and on-the-ground reporting, we try to connect you to places and events that might otherwise feel distant. We’re drawn to stories that surprise, challenge, and inspire us. In short, we want to create a more empathetic world.
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Why Japan Keeps Apologizing for World War IIStories2016-01-10 | Since the end of WWII, Japanese politicians have apologized for atrocities committed against a number of countries. What are they apologizing for now?
Subscribe! http://skr.cm/SubscribeToStories
Seeker Stories finds arresting and unexpected stories in a diverse and changing world. Through short docs, beautiful photographs, and on-the-ground reporting, we try to connect you to places and events that might otherwise feel distant. We’re drawn to stories that surprise, challenge, and inspire us. In short, we want to create a more empathetic world.
Watch Seeker's content days before anyone else, click here for a free 30 day subscription to Vessel: http://skr.cm/seekeratvessel
In China, jade has long-been prized for its durability and beauty, but what are the hidden dark realities surrounding the milky green gem? Watch the next video to learn more about how women are finding their voice behind the burqa in Afghanistan: youtube.com/watch?v=otN8QMPrgIs Subscribe! youtube.com/c/seekerstories?sub_confirmation=1
Correction: the photographer's name should be spelled Minzayar Oo
Five years ago, Julie and Andrew Puckett were working in the theater industry in Chicago when they realized they weren't happy with their living situation. They were both working long hours every week but they still weren't earning enough to make a comfortable living.
Rather than look for higher paying jobs, they took their life savings, bought a bus and started traveling the country.
Watch today's Seeker Stories video to get a glimpse inside this couple's nomadic lifestyle and find out more about the simpler life that so many people around the world are choosing for themselves today.
Additional images courtesy of Instagram users: @homesweetvan @vanlifetravelogueHow This Pro BMX Rider Creates Art On His BikeStories2016-12-22 | How did this man transform riding a bike into a professional career?
"The world from beyond my handle bars is such a unique position. It moves faster, it's more intense. I'm forced to think faster. I feel more comfortable riding my bike sometimes than walking."
As a kid growing up in Queens, Nigel Sylvester never imagined he'd be riding BMX bikes professionally. His parents moved to the U.S. from the small island of Grenada and wanted Nigel to go to college and follow a more traditional path.
But Nigel couldn't stay away from riding. He not only cultivated a career out of it, he created an entire art form with the astounding tricks he captures on video. Watch this Seeker Stories video to see how BMX riding became one of the most important rituals in Nigel Sylvester's life.
Executive Producer: Laura Ling Producer: Paige Hansen Cinematographer: Spencer Snider, Peter Alton Editor: Jordan DertingerLiving Off The Grid In A Snowboarder’s Tiny Cabin (360 Video)Stories2016-12-15 | Take a tour of Pro Snowboarder Mike Basich's off the grid tiny home, and experience his winter wonderland known as Area 241.
Former pro-snowboarder, Mike Basich, gave up the sport and his successful competitive career to realize his dream of building a home off the grid. Seeker Stories visits his tiny cabin near Lake Tahoe, California, which took Mike five years to build. He survives out there by cooking his food and heating water on a fire. Mike also built himself his own chairlift with parts from an old ski resort lift, and even built a second tiny home on a trailer, which he travels with all over the country. Experience Mike's Area 241, and see what it's like to live off the grid by your own means.
Executive Producer: Laura Ling Producer: Aneeta Akhurst Editors: Alex Parkin Cinematographers: Matthew Piniol, Spencer SniderHow This Poo Problem Could Destroy The Hawaiian IslandsStories2016-12-08 | Watch the next video to learn more about how feral pigs are threatning the survival of coral reefs: youtube.com/watch?v=jCEdBoONo2k&t=76s Subscribe! youtube.com/c/seekerstories?sub_confirmation=1
Hawaii has some of the most beautiful and diverse landscapes in the world. The clear, blue water is striking to look at, but the water surrounding Hawaii also has a big problem: cesspools.
A cesspool is essentially a capped hole in the ground used for residential wastewater discharge. Whatever comes from your toilet at home goes into this underground hole and is contained there. Because there is no waste treatment, the waste fosters pathogens, bacteria and excess nutrients, which can seep out of the cesspool and into the nearby soil. Cesspools threaten marine life like coral reefs and they can even be dangerous to human health.
But many people are working to solve this problem. Watch this Seeker Stories video to find out what's being done to curb the cesspool problem in Hawaii.
Executive Producer: Laura Ling Producer: Paige Keipper (Hansen) Cinematographer: Spencer Snider Editor: Jordan DertingerHow An Unarmed Group Of Women Fight Poachers In AfricaStories2016-11-29 | Watch the next video to learn more about how elephants are protecting rhinos in Nepal: youtube.com/watch?v=U_65-F_JpiE Subscribe! youtube.com/c/seekerstories?sub_confirmation=1
Illegal poaching of endangered animals has been a large problem in Africa for many years. Three rhinos are poached every day in South Africa for their horns, and a quarter of a million elephants have been killed for their ivory in the past six years. In addition, poachers also target antelopes and other endangered species such as wild dogs and cheetah for their meat and skin.
In order to combat this problem, Transfrontier Africa founded the Black Mamba Anti-Poaching Unit to protect the Olifants West Region of Balule Nature Reserve, one of Africa's largest game reserves.
The Black Mambas is an unarmed and all-female group, trained to spot, track down and arrest poachers. They are all between 20 and 30 years old and come from local communities and villages surrounding the reserve. So far, The Black Mambas have found and taken down over 12 poachers' camps and 3 bush meat kitchens while also reducing snaring and poisoning by 76% in the area, proving more effective than drones or thermal optics.
But The Black Mambas Program does more than just protect endangered wildlife. It also creates bonds within local communities and educates them about the animals and the importance of saving their natural heritage. The group's goal is to win the war on poaching not through violence, but through local communities being able to work together.
Executive Producer: Laura Ling Producer: Paige Keipper (Hansen) Cinematographer: Morgana Wingard Editor: Jordan DertingerWhat Drove An Inexperienced Rower To Cross The Pacific In 54 DaysStories2016-11-17 | Watch the next video to learn more about how hunting wild pigs could save coral reefs: youtube.com/watch?v=jCEdBoONo2k Subscribe! youtube.com/c/seekerstories?sub_confirmation=1
Louis Bird, 24, is an inexperienced rower, yet he completed a 2,400 mile journey across the Pacific Ocean from California to Hawaii in just 54 days. Bird didn't have expertise to rely on, but he did have the powerful inspiration of his late father, who died at sea in 1996 while also rowing the North Pacific.
Bird only got five precious years with his father and he hoped this journey would bring him some closure on his passing. His father, Peter Bird, was also the first man to row the Pacific Ocean solo in 1983.
Watch today's Seeker Stories video to see footage from Bird's incredible adventure and find out if he was able to gain solace from this unique experience.
Executive Producer: Laura Ling Producer: Paige Keipper (Hansen) Cinematographer: Spencer Snider, Alex Gerhard Editor: Jordan DertingerFor 3 Billion People Cooking Can Be DeadlyStories2016-11-15 | Watch the next video to learn more about transforming a cellphone into a microscope:
youtube.com/watch?v=CtB-VhLhSjs Subscribe! youtube.com/c/seekerstories?sub_confirmation=1
Nearly half the people on Earth use inefficient fuel sources like wood or coal to cook their food. Every year three to four million people die from illnesses related to smoke inhalation from cooking this way, as smoke from open fires contains high amounts of toxic chemicals which can cause a variety of illnesses, including lung cancer and stroke.
To help combat this global health issue, Danny Wilson from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has developed a specially designed efficient cookstove. Wilson and his team are distributing these stoves to places like Sudan, Darfur and Ethiopia where the problem is quite prevalent.
Laura Ling spoke with Wilson to find out more about his life-saving project for this Seeker Stories video.
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Learn more:
Cookstove Projects at Berkeley
"In Sudan's war-torn region of Darfur, women must walk for hours to find firewood, risking attack every step of the way. In 2005, the U.S. government asked Dr. Ashok Gadgil, Deputy of Lawrence Berkeley National Lab's Energy Technologies Area, for a solution to this grave problem. His team designed a fuel-efficient cookstove which is tailored to Darfur's climate and cooking. The Berkeley-Darfur Stove requires less than half the fuel of traditional cooking methods, decreasing women's exposure to violence while collecting firewood and their need to trade food rations for fuel."
http://cookstoves.lbl.gov/index.php
Potential Energy
"We've designed, implemented, and scaled a high-efficiency cookstove distribution model that has impacted the lives of over 1?4 million people. We've distributed over 42,000 stoves in Sudan and Ethiopia, achieved high stove usage rates and measured our impact objectively through sensors and frequent contact with users."
http://www.potentialenergy.org/solutionBehind The Scenes With Cirque du Soleils Superhuman PerformersStories2016-11-03 | Watch the next video to learn more about Obama's speech writer: youtube.com/watch?v=tjKXONnxYpo&list=UUJsSEDFFnMFvW9JWU6XUn0Q&index=3 Subscribe! youtube.com/c/seekerstories?sub_confirmation=1
Since it was founded in 1984, Cirque du Soleil has created a vast number of dynamic and jaw-dropping shows that redefine the modern circus. One of the entertainment company's most formidable shows is KÀ, which has been running since 2004 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Cirque du Soleil recruits top artists from around the world to audition and perform in their shows. Artists compete for highly coveted positions and for many, it is their dream to be on the stage in a Cirque du Soleil production.
For a production of KÀ, there are 14 acts, 80 artists, and over 300 people working behind the scenes. The Los Angeles Times called it the most technologically advanced show in Western theater, incorporating hydraulics, moving stages, pyrotechnics, and more. Seeker Stories correspondent Laura Ling went backstage to interview five artists from the cast. What kind of rituals did each artist use to prepare and remain focused for such advanced, breath-taking stunts?
All of the artists have their own way of preparing mentally, physically, and emotionally to go on stage. For artist Noriko Takahashi, who uses a baton in may of her scenes, practice is essential - even after performing in the show for 11 years. "If I can trust myself," she explains, "I feel more free on the stage. It makes my performance better."
For other performers, it is important to connect the mind with the body through various exercises. "I do skipping rope and I do all sorts of juggling," said capoeira artist Gabryel Nogueira da Silva. With as complex of a production as KÀ, it's also important to connect with other members of the cast. "When there's other people warming up in the same room as me, I try to play with them. I think that's my main goal of the ritual. It is to be connected to the other people that are around me so we can deliver the final result together."
One of the audience's favorite acts, which features the Wheel of Death, takes immense preparation and focus for it's star performers, the Alegría brothers, Francisco and Sabu.
"My brother and I, we are not attached to any safety because you have to be free to be able to really perform. Anything can happen in blink of an eye," said Francisco. So the brothers often play football, or soccer, with each other and other cast members in order to get their adrenaline running. "Every movement is like the wheel," said Sabu. "You run and sometimes, you need to react quickly."
Dan Hong Li, a Chinese opera artist, approaches her warm-up very differently. For her, the important goal is to become calm and focused. Her main ritual involves breathing exercises in the training room before a performance. "Tai Chi gives me a clear mind and positive energy," she explained. Entering into character is also an important step. "When I do my makeup, I just totally, completely relax and focus. I think it's very important."
The cast of KÀ perform the show ten times a week, and even on their days off, they spend many hours conditioning their bodies, eating a focused diet, and concentrating on their routine. It is a lot of hard work, which some of the performers have been doing all of their lives.
Francisco and Sabu Alegría have been in the business for nearly 30 years, and know that staying on top of their craft and remaining dedicated to their work is paramount to safety. "When you want to do something, you have to take it seriously. If you really want to learn," said Francisco, "You have to be disciplined."
Executive Producer: Laura Ling Producer: Paige Keipper (Hansen) Cinematographers: Matthew Piniol, Spencer Snider Editor: Jordan DertingerThis Cellphone Hack Could Save Millions From DiseaseStories2016-11-01 | A team at the University of California, Berkeley, has found a way to transform a cell phone into a handheld microscope.
CellScope at UC Berkeley
"One of the most basic - and powerful - tools in all of science and medicine is the light microscope. By combining mobile microscopy with automation and wireless communication, we are creating new ways to tackle applications from infection disease diagnosis to classroom education."
http://cellscope.berkeley.edu/
The ocean is fundamental to all life on Earth. It covers 70% of our planet, dictates weather, regulates temperature, and takes carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. On the ocean floor lies one of the most diverse marine ecosystems in the world: coral reefs.
“There’s no other ecosystem on this planet that occupies such a small geographic area, but has more forms of life than coral reef ecosystems. They’re unprecedented,” Dr. Jamie Gove, a research oceanographer at NOAA, told Seeker’s correspondent, Kyle Thiermann. “One in four of all marine organisms live in association with coral reefs, but they occupy less than one-tenth of 1% of the seafloor.”
Although known for their beautiful appearance, the reefs are vital to humans and marine life alike. Life without coral reefs would likely mean millions of species dying. It would also mean losing reefs as a new source for medical research, which in the past has led to new medications that treat cancer, arthritis, Alzheimer’s, and many other conditions.
As much as coral reefs provide for the planet, they are very delicate, and reefs around the world are currently dying off at an alarming rate. Coral bleaching occurs in high water temperatures and affects the coral’s zooxanthellae. Zooxanthellae are photosynthetic algae that live within the issue of coral polyp and give healthy coral a bright color, as well as nutrients. When the water becomes too hot, the coral expel the zooxanthellae. At this point, the coral are not dead, but they’re vulnerable.
There have been many incidents recently that have decimated coral, like in 1998 when El Nino triggered a bleaching event that killed 16% of coral reefs around the world. A similar event happened during La Nina of 2010, and again in October of 2015. This event is ongoing and has become the longest bleaching event in recorded history.
With time and reduced climate intensity, bleached reefs can come back to life, but it’s much harder when they are additionally stressed by land based activities.
“I think we have seen declines in reef ecosystems for decades now and so I think that we’re slowly reaching a tipping point which once we reach that point, reefs will be on a negative trajectory that there’s no turning back,” said Dr. Gove. “The only way that we can promote reef ecosystem resilience is by changing what we’re doing on land, that currently impacts reef ecosystem health.”
One of these factors are the feral pigs and goats in Hawaii. Chad Wiggins, Marine Program Director at The Nature Conservancy Hawaii, is working towards solutions to manage the hooved animals’ growing population numbers, and in effect, hopefully provide relief for coral to survive the effects of climate change.
Feral pigs and goats cause damage for coral as they dig up grounds in search for worms and snails in Hawaii’s forests, and that’s where the problem begins.“Once the rains come intermittently and flood these streams, that’s when they get a big bolster of sediment onto the reef,” explained Wiggins. “If it’s smothered, it can’t get sunlight, it can’t get oxygen, it can’t get nutrients and it’s dead. If the coral manages to survive, every time the waves come it gets re-suspended and the sediment continues to do damage, sometimes for decades.”
Native residents of Hawaii, like Pono Hiu, feel very protective of both coral and feral pigs. Approximately 500 million people depend on reefs for food to feed their families. Reefs also support livelihoods by contributing $30 billion to the global economy each year through fishing, recreation, and tourism.
“It would be a sad day to jump into this ocean and not see any coral for me. I take my son out here and I dive all the time and poke fish to feed my family. This ocean provides food for a lot of us here in Hawaii,” said Hiu.
Hiu and his family have lived in Hawaii for generations, and are also eager to find solutions where pigs and coral can coexist.
“What needs to happen is management,” said Wiggins. “If we want to have a healthy native forest, there have to be some areas that don’t have pigs in them and finding where those areas are is something where conservationists and hunters have to work together.”
At just 24 years old, David Litt became a speechwriter at the White House. Landing such a prestigious job when you've just barely graduated college is pretty impressive, but ironically, Litt never intended to work in politics.
"I was on a plane and we had just began our initial descent," Litt told Seeker's Laura Ling. "And I was channel-surfing on the free airplane cable and I saw this candidate who I had heard of but didn't know a lot about named Barack Obama. By the time that speech was over I was like, 'Never mind, whatever he is doing, I want to be part of that.'"
Litt wasn't just inspired by Obama, he was filled with hope in a way he'd never experienced before. He desperately wanted to be part of the change that this charismatic presidential candidate kept going on about. After moving to Washington D.C. in 2009, Litt began working for a private firm specializing in speech writing. Then in 2011, the job offer at the White House materialized.
"You have to realize how high the stakes are," said Litt. "We would write speeches knowing that there are people whose full-time job is to pick apart every single word the President says, and sometimes just to take things out of context, and that can be incredibly intimidating."
Litt left the White House in 2015. He’s currently working on a book about his experience, entitled “That Hopey, Changey Thing,” which will be published by Ecco Press in 2017. Litt now puts his comedy skills to good use as a head writer and producer for Funny or Die.
Executive Producer: Laura Ling Producer: Paige Hansen Cinematographers: Matthew Piniol, Spencer Snider Editor: Jordan DertingerOwning A Restaurant Under The Cuban EmbargoStories2016-10-13 | Watch the next video to learn "How is Capitalism Changing Cuba?" youtube.com/watch?v=sC_1oGJQBH8 Subscribe! youtube.com/c/seekerstories?sub_confirmation=1
In Cuba, the number of private restaurants, also known as paladares, have soared. So, what is it like to own one of them?
America is in the middle of a farming crisis. Only about 6% of current U.S. farmers are under age 35, which means we may not be able to grow enough food to feed the country in the future.
*Correction: Sophie Ackoff is the correct spelling, not Ackhoff.
Executive Producer: Laura Ling Producer: Paige Keipper (Hansen), Aneeta Akhurst Cinematographers: Spencer Snider, Alex Gerhard Editor: Lee MouldThe Russian Schools Training Women To Be HousewivesStories2016-10-04 | Watch the next video to learn more about what life is like for women in Russia: youtube.com/watch?v=yLYO0hoA0-k Subscribe! youtube.com/c/seekerstories?sub_confirmation=1
Alesya Terekhova runs a school called Woman Inside, where she coaches young women on how to be polite and keep a tidy house. She offers beauty and styling tips, and ultimately she teaches them how to keep their husbands and relationships happy. In Terekhova's view, Russian women need men to protect them.
According to Dr. Jennifer Utrata, associate professor at University of Puget Sound, the reality is more complicated. Utrata interviewed hundreds of Russian men and women on their family life for her book "Women Without Men: Single Mothers and Family Change in The New Russia."
What she came to discover is that a number of marriages in Russia suffer from the effects of alcoholism. A 2014 study found that a staggering 25% of Russian men die before age 55, primarily due to alcohol, and though it doesn't mean all Russian men having a drinking problem, it was one of the main reasons for divorce.
"I think women's ideas are that men really need to be the responsible ones. Even if they're not, there's a longing for a sober, reliable breadwinner," said Utrata. "They really want men to at least be focused on bringing home that paycheck and that does go back to the Soviet period, where men weren't necessarily encouraged to be equally involved in the home front."
During the Soviet era, the government required women to work but they were still expected to care for the home as well. They essentially worked around the clock. "If you can imagine in times of shortages in the Soviet Union," Utrata explained, "Doing all your grocery shopping, where you had to really go to multiple stores to procure the goods you needed to find for your family, and taking public transportation, all on top of paid work. Women really have this double burden in a more pronounced way than I think many women experienced it in the West. Although it's certainly a phenomenon for Western women as well."
Back then, at least there were more government benefits for working mothers, like childcare and maternity leave benefits. Today, even though Russian women are not mandated to work, the benefits are different under Russian President Putin.
"Many [women] did like work and value work even if they weren't in the top positions or earning as much as men because work was respected in the Soviet Union and still is respected in a capitalist society," added Utrata. "But work does not mean equality when you don't have the other equality at home."
As there was never a grassroots movement to urge Russian men to be more involved in domestic responsibilities and childcare, modern Russian gender roles look very different than in the West.
"There's still this hope, especially among the single mothers I interviewed, that they could turn things around," explained Utrata. "They feel Russian women are strong but they can be even stronger. They can maintain a positive outlook. They might go to church and light icons. They might read self-help books. They would get support from their girlfriends and other women. There were a range of things that they're open to that would help them keep this focus on relying on themselves. I called them practical realists. They might have their ideals, but they're focused on what they are going to accomplish and relying on themselves."
Terekhova's Woman Inside ideology actually somewhat aligns with this way of thinking, in that she believes women can only depend on themselves to properly care for the home and children. However, she also cautions that if this domestic work is done properly, there simply isn't enough time to also have a career.
While there are many people that just don't believe in feminism, there are also many that disagree with Terekhova's way of thinking as well. The feminist rock band, Pussy Riot, staged a surprise concert at a church in 2012 in which they sang about feminism. This was seen as representative of the growing frustration among many Russians over women being treated as second-class citizens.
Terekhova continues to hold strongly to her belief system, adding "It should be noted that while working and earning money, a woman loses her feminine energy and is no longer 100% desirable. This is a fact."
Terekhova is not yet married herself and is currently concentrating on running her growing business.
Executive Producer: Laura Ling Producer: Paige Hansen, Aneeta Akhurst Cinematographer: Anna Varavva Editor: Lee MouldHow Algae Could Change The Fossil Fuel IndustryStories2016-09-29 | Watch the next video to learn more about the science of algae fuel: youtube.com/watch?v=ExOXF1x3N1g Subscribe! youtube.com/c/seekerstories?sub_confirmation=1
Great strides have been made in recent years towards using renewable sources of energy, like electric vehicles, solar panels, wind energy and even algae. It might seem surprising, but algae is one of the most powerful sources of energy we have access to on Earth. When dried algae is ground into a powder and refined, oil can be extracted from it. The result is nearly identical to traditional gasoline, but with far more benefits.
Dave Hazlebeck, CEO of Global Algae Innovations, gave Seeker a tour of his algae farm in Kauai, Hawaii, and explained how his company is revolutionizing sustainable energy. "The fuel that we're producing is exactly the same in terms of performance as gasoline or diesel or jet, it's just a lot cleaner. I think the big difference is that [with] all the other biofuels, you're growing it and you're just getting biofuel. In this case, for every gallon of biofuel you get 10 pounds of food with it," Hazlebeck said.
Hazlebeck believes his company is on the path to completely change the way we currently produce both oil and food. Not only can algae create biofuel, it can also be used to create animal feed. Currently, most animal and fish feed is made from corn or soy, which both use more water and energy to grow than algae.
"There's studies that show with algae grown to replace animal feed, you could actually solve global warming to a large extent," Hazlebeck told Seeker.
Algae can be used to create food for humans as well. New Wave Foods in Northern California created fake shrimp made from algae and other plants that actually looks, smells and even tastes like real shrimp. Because it's made from algae, the shrimp substitute also has the added benefit of being low in fat and extremely rich in nutrients, something that corn and soy are severely lacking.
Growing algae for oil and food could also significantly reduce deforestation. According to Scientific American, the yields from algae are far more significant than crops like corn or soy. If all the fuel in the country was replaced with biofuel from corn, we would need a facility three times the size of the continental U.S. to produce it. But for algae, we would need a facility the size of Maryland. Additionally, algae can produce 40 times more food per acre than traditional crops.
While showing the Seeker team around GAI's Hawaii facility, Hazlebeck explained that the algae farm is next to a power plant, which puts it in a very unique position. "[It] allows us to capture carbon dioxide and avoid that discharge and reuse it, and that prevents it from going into the atmosphere and causing global warming," he said. "If every power plant had an algae farm next to it, it could potentially solve the global warming issue entirely."
The environmental benefits of algae are impressive, and because algae can grow in both freshwater and seawater, it's also very easy to produce. So, does that mean we'll all be filling our cars with algae gas at the pumps very soon?
Not just yet. Hazlebeck and his team have run into a few setbacks since they began scaling up their operations. The most prohibitive issue has been the cost.
When Global Algae Innovations began, a gallon of oil produced from algae was about $30 a gallon -- 10 times higher than it needs to be to work as a viable alternative to fossil fuel. But Hazlebeck and his team didn't give up, and they've continued to come up with solutions to decrease the cost. As of now, they almost have algae oil down to only $2 - $3 a gallon.
Once GAI can get their algae production up to scale, Hazlebeck believes it will change the geopolitics of the world. "A lot of the reasons we have wars are because of fights over resources or the need for more resources. By creating a more equitable distribution with countries being able to make their own, it should lead to a more stable and peaceful world," he told Seeker.
That's really the point of it all for Hazlebeck and GAI. They don't want to be the only company doing this; they want everyone working together because they truly believe using algae as a fuel and food source will change the world.
Executive Producer: Laura Ling Producers: Paige Keipper (Hansen), Conor Spicer Cinematographers: Matthew Piniol Spencer Snider Editor: Lee MouldWhat is The Future of Aerospace?Stories2016-09-25 | The world has been abuzz with news that we may be getting closer to commercial space travel. But what really is the future of aerospace?Using Dozens Of Elephants To Save RhinosStories2016-09-22 | With the help of the WWF and a parade of elephants, Nepal’s Greater One-Horned Rhinos are moving from Chitwan National Park, to Bardia National Park in order to establish new breeding populations.
Watch Seeker’s VR video about the project here: Relocating A 3-ton Rhino In Nepal (360 Video) youtube.com/watch?v=XS1sgeIW2SQ
Afghanistan is often depicted as a Middle Eastern country that requires women to wear burqas in public, but the real story here is actually much more complicated than that. Photojournalist Paula Bronstein spent 15 years documenting life in Afghanistan, and tells Seeker Stories how women are finding their voice.
CORRECTION: Cybird games "Midnight Cinderella" and "100 Days Princess" are different games, and not the same game as stated at 2:09 in the video. “Midnight Cinderella” is the English release currently available, but “100 Days Princess” is in Japanese only.
Otome is a dating simulation game that is essentially a modern romance novel targeted towards women. Simulation games became popular in Japan in the 80's but the first one targeted towards women, called Angelique, was released in 1994 for Super Nintendo. The success of Angelique made it obvious to the industry that games for women should focus on romance.
Today, otome games are a normal part of Japanese culture. Seeker spoke to Lena, Regional Manager for North America for the Japanese gaming company Cybird, who explained that they try to make the romance in their games feel as real as possible.
In western culture, the idea of forbidden intimacy before marriage seems pretty antiquated, but for young adults in India it's the reality they face everyday. While not technically illegal, being physically intimate before marriage is considered immoral by many Indians, and public displays of affection often result in verbal and sometimes physical attacks. Young couples are forced to jump through hoops just to get a few hours of privacy.
That’s why a new start up is trying make the process easier. StayUncle helps young couples find rooms at participating hotels that guarantee their anonymity and safety. They hope that they can contribute towards changing cultural values in India and make it easier for couples to express their affection to one another.
Executive Producer: Laura Ling Producer: Paige Keipper (Hansen) Cinematographer: Sidrah Ahmed Editor: Lee MouldWill Meatless Meat Be The Future Of Food?Stories2016-08-11 | Watch the next video to learn more about the Salvage Supperclub: youtu.be/vW8IGuerkB4?list=UUJsSEDFFnMFvW9JWU6XUn0Q
As public concern grows over how meat production affects our environment, a new food revolution is underway.
More and more plant-based meat alternatives are entering the market, and one of them is made by New Wave Foods. New Wave has been working on a shrimp substitute that's made entirely from plant and algae products.
The company was founded by two scientists, Dominique Barnes and Michelle Wolf, who wanted to come up with a more sustainable alternative to shrimp farming. Shrimp farms across Asia often destroy mangrove forests and wetland ecosystems - a high price to pay for the number one eaten seafood in the U.S. The average American consumes 4 pounds of shrimp per year - adding to a total of 1.3 billion pounds consumed annually. New Wave's plant-based shrimp looks a lot like the real thing, and even has the texture and taste of shrimp, with similar fat and protein content, but no cholesterol.
Executive Producer: Laura Ling Producer: Pam Torno Cinematographers: Matthew Piniol, Spencer Snider Editor: Lee MouldWould You Pay To Eat In A Dumpster?Stories2016-08-04 | Watch the next video to learn more about San Francisco's zero waste goal: youtube.com/watch?v=Cg3OA1s8-SI&index=4&list=UUJsSEDFFnMFvW9JWU6XUn0Q
Laura Ling attends a dinner party in a dumpster, eating ugly food that would have otherwise been wasted or thrown away because it was imperfectly shaped. She talks with the founder of Salvage Supperclub to understand the impact of food waste in the world and what we can be doing to reverse some of those detrimental statistics.
Executive Producer: Laura Ling Associate Producer: Spencer Snider Cinematographer: Spencer Snider Editor: Lee MouldJapan Is Hiring Professional NinjasStories2016-07-28 | Watch the next video to learn more about the supermodel of hands: http://bit.ly/28JpAUQ Subscribe! youtube.com/c/seekerstories?sub_confirmation=1
Being a professional ninja might sound like a little kid's fantasy, but in Aichi, Japan it's a very real job you can have as an adult. Aichi is the birthplace of the Samurai warrior and there are still many places in the city related to Samurai history, from castles to battlegrounds, that people can visit. The ninjas serve as publicists for these sites in order to help boost tourism.
When the Aichi government put out an ad looking for professional ninjas, there were 235 applicants and 200 of them were foreigners -- only 35 were Japanese. Chris O'Neill is one of those foreigners who made the cut. In fact, he is the first American to ever become a salaried foreign ninja. He now performs all over the world in a group called Hattori Hanzo and the Ninjas, fulfilling his lifelong dream of becoming a professional ninja.
Sawhorse Revolution is a youth-oriented construction program currently focusing on building an eco-village at Nickelsville, a homeless encampment in Seattle, Washington. Sarah Smith and a team of high schoolers approach the residents of Nickelsville as their clients to deliver customized, hand-built homes to help ease the transition from homelessness to the next stage of the resident's life.
Special thanks to Sawhorse Revolution and Jessica Sherry of Alita Films. Thumb photo by Barron Peper.
Laura Ling visits Bina48, a robot who claims she can think and speak for herself.
Special thanks to Part2 Productions.
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Twitter: twitter.com/SeekerNetwork Facebook: facebook.com/pages/Seeker-Network/872690716088418?ref=hl Instagram: http://instagram.com/seekernetwork Tumblr: http://seekernetwork.tumblr.com App - iOS http://seekernetwork.com/ios App - Android http://seekernetwork.com/androidThis Farm of the Future Uses No Soil and 95% Less WaterStories2016-07-05 | Watch the next episode about San Francisco becoming a zero waste city: youtube.com/watch?v=Cg3OA1s8-SI&list=UUJsSEDFFnMFvW9JWU6XUn0Q As urban populations continue to rise, innovators are looking beyond traditional farming as a way to feed everyone while having less impact on our land and water resources. Vertical farming is one solution that's been implemented around the world. Vertical farms produce crops in stacked layers, often in controlled environments such as those built by AeroFarms in Newark, New Jersey. AeroFarms grows a variety of leafy salad greens using a process called "aeroponics," which relies on air and mist. AeroFarms' crops are grown entirely indoors using a reusable cloth medium made from recycled plastics. In the absence of sun exposure, the company uses LED lights that expose plants to only certain types of spectrum. AeroFarms claims it uses 95% less water than a traditional farm thanks to its specially designed root misting system. And it is now building out a new 70,000 square foot facility in a former steel mill. Once completed, it's expected to grow 2 million pounds of greens per year, making it the largest indoor vertical farm in the world.
According to the EPA, the national recycling rate in the U.S. is only about 34%. That means most of our solid waste goes to landfills and incinerators - including recyclable items like paper, glass, metal and plastic. Massive amounts of food waste that can be composted is clogging landfills, creating dangerous greenhouse gases. Many cities are starting to tackle this problem by implementing policies to help curb the waste by recycling and composting more. It's known as the "zero waste" movement, and San Francisco is on the forefront. Other cities that have zero waste goals include Portland, Seattle, Minneapolis, Austin, and Oakland. But San Francisco has been the most aggressive. In 2009 the board of supervisors passed an ordinance requiring all residents and business to recycle and compost their waste, making it the first American city to make composting mandatory. Its goal is to achieve zero waste by 2020, and it has diverted 80% of its waste from landfills so far. Now the city is getting attention from all around the world. Government officials from China, Italy, France, Denmark, India and many other countries have visited San Francisco's state of the art recycling and composting facilities in hopes of learning how to replicate its success.
Game of Thrones is the most popular show in HBO history, and its power as a pop culture force can be felt across the world. The show has been filmed in various locations across Europe, including Ireland, Iceland, Croatia, Morocco, and Spain, resulting in a huge boost in tourism. But no town has needed this boost more than Osuna, a tiny Spanish village in the Andalusian region, where the unemployment rate is over 30%. In 2014, film crews for Game of Thrones descended upon Osuna for just 17 days of shooting. The producers were attracted by Osuna's bullring, which was used to film the Daznak's Pit scene from Season 5. Since then, the town has experienced a noticeable increase in visitors - mostly fans of the series. And it's been great for the local economy, nearly two years later.
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Twitter: twitter.com/SeekerNetwork Facebook: facebook.com/pages/Seeker-Network/872690716088418?ref=hl Instagram: http://instagram.com/seekernetwork Tumblr: http://seekernetwork.tumblr.com App - iOS http://seekernetwork.com/ios App - Android http://seekernetwork.com/androidAre Teenagers Keeping Vinyl Records Alive?Stories2016-06-16 | There's no question the Internet opened up a whole new world of music consumption - first there were mp3 downloads, now there's a multitude of streaming music services like Spotify, Pandora, and Tidal. Digital distribution is now a dominating force in the industry. Yet something unexpected has been happening with vinyl records over the past decade - they've actually been on the rise. Nielson says vinyl record sales have steadily grown over the past ten years. And according to the RIAA, 2015 vinyl sales reached their highest level since 1988. Conventional wisdom says nostalgic baby boomers and Gen Xers are keeping this outdated format alive, but a growing number of younger fans are buying records now, too. In fact, MusicWatch reported that half of all record buyers in 2015 were under 25 years old. One of them is 16-year old-Adia Douglas - a vinyl enthusiast who just opened up her own record store in the San Francisco Bay Area. Adia was born in the digital age but was influenced by her father, a musician and longtime record collector himself. After noticing boxes of records in their home that weren't being played, Adia convinced her parents to let her open up a little shop to sell new and used vinyl. Now she's there most days after school, selling records to customers who are sometimes younger than she is.
Executive Producer: Laura Ling Producer: Pam Torno Cinematographer: Spencer Snider Editor: Jordan DertingerOakland From Every AngleStories2016-06-15 | Home to a thriving downtown, vibrant arts scene, and some of the best food in the country, Oakland is emerging as a must see destination.
"What I loved the most about Oakland was that all of my neighbors came in as many colors, ideas, and religions as there are people on the planet. How lucky I was to know so many people that were so different and yet so much alike!" - Patricia PolaccoMeet The Supermodel Of HandsStories2016-06-14 | Modeling careers usually don't last long, unless you're Ellen Sirot. Ellen is one of the most successful hand models in the world. You've probably seen her hands in print ads and TV commercials for big name products like L'Oreal, Lysol, K Mart and McDonald's. She's even been a "hand-in" for actresses like Katie Holmes and Sarah Jessica Parker. While she remains busy with her own modeling gigs, she still finds the time to coach newer hand models the techniques she's learned over the years. And she takes meticulous care of her hands. Minor things like cuts, broken nails or hangnails could cost her a day's work, so Ellen never leaves the house without wearing a pair of gloves and regular manicures are a must. As a result, her money-makers are in fantastic shape and she expects to stay in the hand modeling business for a long time.
Join the Seeker community! Twitter: twitter.com/SeekerNetwork Facebook: facebook.com/pages/Seeker-Network/872690716088418?ref=hl Instagram: http://instagram.com/seekernetwork Tumblr: http://seekernetwork.tumblr.com App - iOS http://seekernetwork.com/ios App - Android http://seekernetwork.com/androidHow The Internet Advanced The New Civil Rights MovementStories2016-06-09 | Social media has been a crucial tool in helping today’s activists get their message out and mobilize a community of protesters. But what was organizing like before Twitter and Facebook existed? To find out how changing technology has influenced civil rights movements from the days of Martin Luther King Jr. to today, Laura Ling talks to Stanford history professor Clayborne Carson, a civil rights activist who marched on Washington in 1963, and Sam Sinyangwe, a data scientist and Black Lives Matter activist.
To learn more about Clayborne Carson:
https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/clayborne-carson
"I think for me, being outside; there's always been some connection. I don't want to be on my phone, I don't like being in front of a computer screen, I like being outside in the trees," said Voirin. "I just feel really at ease and very happy out there."
So how does someone end up becoming a professional tree climber? Usually it's through several courses of instruction. But Voirin's story is a little different.
Executive Producer: Laura Ling Producer: Paige Keipper (Hansen) Cinematographers: Matt Piniol, Spencer Snider Editor: Lee MouldUsing Drones To Predict The Future Of Climate ChangeStories2016-06-02 | Watch the next video about a superintendent with creative solutions http://bit.ly/1Z3DMdv Subscribe! youtube.com/c/seekerstories?sub_confirmation=1 Brennon Edwards is a full-time video producer in Los Angeles, but spends free time volunteering as a citizen scientist - using his drone. He's contributing to a project of The Nature Conservancy of California, who are asking citizens to get involved with climate change in a very tangible and easy way. All citizen scientists have to do is use their iPhone or drone to take pictures of the impacts of El Nino on the California coast - like floods or erosions. The images, full of metadata helpful to scientists, are so valuable that they can indicate what effects climate change will have on our country in future years - and give us a chance to plan to adapt.
Executive Producer: Laura Ling Producer: Paige Keipper (Hansen) Cinematographers: Matthew Piniol, Spencer Snider Editor: Jordan DertingerTurning Dead Animals Into A Dream JobStories2016-05-31 | Watch the next video to learn more about LEGO Artist Nathan Sawaya: http://bit.ly/25fb7G4 Subscribe! youtube.com/c/seekerstories?sub_confirmation=1 Taxidermy isn't just for mounting hunting trophies on the wall. It can also help us learn about animals we may never see in the wild, and inspire us to preserve them. That's what Alicia Goode hopes to do every day at the Oakland Museum of California. Alicia's taxidermy training started early as a child, making shoebox dioramas for her friends and cleaning animal skulls from her dad's hunting trips. As a teenager, she volunteered at a natural history shop. Her lifelong love of art and nature eventually turned into a full-fledged career. Alicia works full time at OMCA making and restoring awe-inspiring dioramas featuring grizzly bears, mountain lions, Tule elk and other fauna. She also runs her own taxidermy business.
Executive Producer: Laura Ling Producer: Pam Torno Cinematographer: Spencer Snider Editor: Lee MouldHow One Woman Reinvented School To Combat PovertyStories2016-05-26 | Watch the next episode about Kelly Acevedo here: http://bit.ly/1OYcGE7 Subscribe! youtube.com/c/seekerstories?sub_confirmation=1 Dr. Tiffany Anderson commutes four hours every day to work, each way. When she arrives, she takes over for crossing guard duty and welcomes each student on their way to school for the day. It’s just one of the ways she has taken a hands-on approach to turning around a flailing school district in a low-income neighborhood near Ferguson, Missouri. Dr. Anderson firmly believes in nurturing “the whole child” when they walk through the doors of her schools. This means needs like food, clothing, and healthcare must be addressed for disadvantaged students in order for them to have a level playing field and an ability to succeed. So, after balancing the budget and taking the school to an accredited level, Dr. Anderson installed a food pantry, laundry facilities, and a full clinic at the school. “When kids knew that we cared,” said Dr. Anderson, “There was almost like this light bulb went off, this willingness to try.”