A Christmas music video shot here in Burundi. LIVE!

Seth Chase and Albert Kulu team up again for a live Christmas tune from the living room of Chez Chase on Christmas Eve in Kinindo, Burundi. Dig it all you peoples of the world. Can... You... Dig It! In the end it took 15 takes before we could make a usable version. (5 hours of performing and two hours of videoing). I'll give 10 thousand francs Burundi to the person who can find where I made the edit in the live version. Promise. Make that a million francs. Serious. The best edit in my film career so far. I can't even see it and I've watched it hundreds of times.

The documentary has arrived

Hey guys,

Check out the documentary my friend Daniel from HELO magazine did on our journey to bring Bang for your Buck to the screens in New York and around the world. We'll be premiering the films in London in January.

Filming Violence (Full Documentary, 14 minutes) from HELO Magazine on Vimeo.

It's time to vote...again

Hello everyone,

I know it's been a while, but I'd like you to see some films, and vote (hopefully for my film). Essentially I'm a finalist in an international film competition to help regulate the selling/trafficking/loaning/lending/giving or small arms to conflict and post conflict countries. It's been a wild ride, the making of this last film, and I can't say it was pleasant... and the fight goes on. So the competition is called shooting poverty and i am one of three finalists. Email me for more details, otherwise I'd love it if you go to this site and watch, then vote. Any confusion drop me another email... I'm happy to help make voting easier. Check out the link below:

http://www.shootingpoverty.org/

Seth on behalf of the Bang for your Buck crew

This week, Oxfam International premiered its latest advocacy effort for arms control and violence prevention with a unique new project called ShootingPoverty.org.

The project allows you - yes, you! - to send in your videos and links to form part of the movement to curb violence globally.

What? How? One wonders whether only those with funds, nice cameras and training will be able to contribute. But filmmaking is getting easier every year with community centers, libraries and universities sharing their tools, and the project really is open and accessible to almost anyone.

You can be anywhere from 7 to 157 years old, computer illiterate or living in a rural area, but if you have a good point to make which persuades a few people at the local college or library with access a simple camera, you can contribute to the movement. If not, then hey, just enjoy the films on the website and tell friends about it and what it means for preventing violence.

To kick off the Shooting Poverty project this year, Oxfam called for youth around the world to submit documentary film proposals, selected the top three, and then had a producer fly out to meet them with funds and equipment to make the short films.

Last night Oxfam premiered the winning films at the Tribeca Cinema. Under the guidance of Executive Producer Oistein Thorsen and Producer Lucas Gath (Sins of My Father), the films included: Grosso Calibre, a film on illegal funk written about violence in Brazilian favelas by Guilherme Arruda and Ludmila Curi, journalists from Rio de Janeiro; Bang for Your Buck, about the plague of grenade killings in Burundi by Seth Chase, a media producer, and Brice Blondel, a UN political affairs guru; and April 6th, about how battles between Indian security forces and rebels have led to many families losing breadwinners to assassination, by Chandam Netraj.

In the former film, Grosso Calibre, we meet MC Smith, a Brazilian funk performer who's attitude simply does not quit. Rapping about how drug dealers ignite fights with the police, who then over-retaliate by laying siege to entire neighborhoods where the dealers are holding out, MC Smith performs on a line similar to that of American gangsta rappers who are simultaneously against gun violence and the hawks in the government, yet in contrast are outspoken champions of macho, tough-guy gun culture. Curi, a charismatic intellectual full of vitality who produces video journalism, and Arruda, a shy and thoughtful news editor, have already considered approaching other funk musicians in the favelas for a deeper feature version of their film.

Bang for Your Buck features Teddy Mazina, a Burundian human rights advocate and reporter who wakes up with a rifle next to his bed, combs out his hair and reports stories about how the after-effects of the civil war in the 1990s are still killing people.

For those readers who are interested in hearing more, HELO Magazine (where I work) was given exclusive behind-the-scenes with the filmmakers this week, the product of which will be added toShootingPoverty.org and the DVD promo for the project.

To participate in Oxfam's latest anti-violence campaign, check out the site at ShootingPoverty.org. Then, bombard your congresspeople with links to the films. Encourage them to support the latest US and UN arms control efforts.

Photo: Daniel J Gerstle (Guilherme Arruda and Ludmila Curi in Brooklyn).

UH Oh

The "joker" in Batman the dark knight said, "It's not about the money, it's about sending a message, everything burns." Here it's always about the money. But the results are the same. Below is the bummer news.

Bujumbura - Residents in northern Burundi are on alert after the discovery of 14 bodies, some of them mutilated, in a local river over the last week, a local official said on Wednesday.

"Since last week, we have found 14 bodies in this area, some of them with their limbs bound and others with machete wounds," local administrator Julien Nimbona said.

"Fear has engulfed the region and residents fear a resumption of violence."

In the latest discovery on Tuesday, four bodies were found floating on River Rusizi where it empties on Lake Tanganyika in the north of Burundi, he added.

"We are not sure who is behind these murders, but these bodies have been washed down by River Rusizi which flows through Rukoko marshes and some believe they are from there," said the official.

Several residents have been killed near the Rukoko marshes, some 15 km north of the capital Bujumbura in recent days by armed bandits whom residents suspect to be a reformed rebel group.

Burundi's top security officials have nevertheless been adamant that a recent spate of killings were the work of gangs of "unidentified armed bandits" and play down rumours that the former rebellion is reforming.

Following local elections in May, three opposition leaders went into hiding blaming President Pierre Nkurunziza's party of having rigged the poll.

Nkurunziza's main political rival, Agathon Rwasa, abandoned his government duties and went back to the bush, fueling speculation that his National Liberation Forces has reformed, barely a year after laying down their arms.

Look out Burundi, Jeff, Ben, and I may get a Radio show

Objectif

Quand on pense au développement des pays, aux étrangers, on pense souvent aux ONGs, aux droits de l’homme, à l’ONU et aux disparités sociales et économiques. Cela crée l’effet de défigurer des perspectifs. On voit seulement les différences et les divisions. On finit finalement d’avoir des malentendus ou des perceptions erronées des autres.

Or, la vie populaire n’est pas seulement des droits de l’homme, la politique, des slogans. Il y a des espaces physiques et culturelles à découvrir. Il faut toujours avoir la curiosité et la possibilité pour explorer la vie qui passe autour de nous. Qu’est ce que les gens mangent ? Quelle musique les intéresse? Quelles idées les saisissent? Ce programme va faire rapprocher un peu les gens, de n’importe quelle couleur, de n’importe quelle orientation. Avec un programme bilingue (anglais/français mais principalement en anglais pour promouvoir la deuxième langue officielle et donner un espace d’expression aux gens qui l’étudient), des tranches bien diverses, nous allons créer un forum qui suscite des échanges franches entre des communautés et des cultures différentes tous en montrant que ces thèmes auront aussi un grand impact sur le commerce du pays.

Ce programme va durer une heure, chaque jeudi soir de 18h à 19h. Nous aurons des tranches diverses (notes ci-dessous, mais pas toujours dans cet ordre) qui auront pour but d’augmenter la compréhension du contexte locale pour les étrangers mais aussi des locaux et surtout pour améliorer la compréhension entre des gens des cultures différentes. Ces discussions, nous espérons, auront l’impact de renforcer des relations entre des gens, créer la confiance collective et contribuer à une harmonie sociale. Dans cette ambiance, nous voyons des grands bénéfices pour le commerce, les échanges entre des individus et l’évolution de ce pays.

Promotion Commerciale/Professionnelle

Interviews (10-15 minutes) – Une fois chaque deux semaines, nous allons inviter des locaux, surtout des jeunes, pour discuter sur un thème spécifique lié avec leurs expériences de vivre au Burundi, d’apprendre l’anglais, travailler, etc. Les semaines ou nous ne faisons pas des interviews, nous aurons la tranche ‘Social Theme‘ (ci-dessous).

Job advice (10 minutes) – Une tranche régulière ou nous allons identifier un conseil pour faciliter la recherche d’un boulot. En tant que Directeur d’ONG, je vois beaucoup de CV et je rencontre beaucoup de monde qui postule pour des positions. Ils pourront profiter des suggestions ou recommandations sur comment présenter un bon dossier et sur les erreurs à éviter. Cette tranche sera rentable pour des professionnels, surtout les jeunes, et la discussion pourra avancer les ambitions professionnelles et commerciales des gens. Elle va à la fois augmenter la capacité des gens et aussi améliorer la compréhension entre des cultures différentes.

Restaurant reviews (5-10 minutes) – Une semaine un resto de la cuisine étrangère, la prochaine sur la cuisine locale – promotion du commerce, augmenter la connaissance des endroits différents. Nous donnerons des recommandations à chaque émission pour un resto à essayer. Même si c’est un resto connu, nous allons parler de nos propres expériences qui donneront une perspective unique.

Promotion culturelle

Music (20 - 25 minutes) – Chansons américaines de styles différents : folk, hip-hop, blues, country – avec des petites explications des chanteurs, des themes traites, des origines, etc.

Paroles de musique (5 minutes) – Chaque semaine, nous trouverons une chanson courante et nous allons le jouer et y trouver une expression intéressante pour l’expliquer. Nous allons solliciter des recommandations ou requêtes pour cette chanson (ou une expression dans une chanson) chaque semaine.

Social Theme (10 -15 minutes) – Dans cette tranche, nous allons choisir un theme qui touche la vie quotidienne et qui implique des relations entre des locaux et des étrangers (de n’importe quel pays, mais surtout au Burundi). Ces situations peuvent créer des fausses impressions, des stéréotypes, des malentendus (par exemple, conduire ou travailler). Nous allons les analyser, y donnent nos commentaires et essayer de proposer des moyens pour diminuer la tension qui arrivent souvent à cause de ces situations. Un des objectifs de cette tranche, c’est d’améliorer et élargir la conception de l’Autre – de voir les locaux et les étrangers comme des gens avec des expériences communes, de comprendre leurs passions, leurs frustrations, leurs motivations et leurs opinions.

Annonces (5 minutes) des événements culturels, films, soldes, fêtes, etc., principalement à Buja.

Petites annonces d’emplois (5 minutes) – Ils vont générer un peu de revenu pour soutenir la chaine et le programme.

A Day At The Beach

On a whim, I submitted a short film to a film festival in Arizona (PICFF) with the help of Ken Newcomb. Well, I got an "official selection" award, and it will show opening night, or something like that. I'll see if I can't post the video online, but it's near impossible to do from here these days. But when it gets posted on line by the festival, I'll be sure to link it here so it can be viewed. Thanks to all who participated in this production. You know who you are.

Costs of living

I found this information on cost Of Living in Burundi compared with other countries quite interesting. It's from a guy who blogs on ways to inform expatriates how to make decisions when living abroad so that they don't go broke or end up without retirement options:

Bujumbura has an overall cost of living index which equates it with low cost of living locations. The overall cost of living index is comprised of the prices for defined quantities of the same goods and services across all 13 Basket Groups. Bujumbura is currently ranked 247 overall, most expensive place in the world for expatriates to live, out of 282 international locations. The cost of living overview for each of the 13 Basket Groups is as follows:

Alcohol & Tobacco costs for alcoholic beverages such as alcohol at bar, beer, locally produced spirit, whiskey, and wine as well as tobacco products such as cigarettes is relatively more expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 34 out of 282.

Clothing costs for clothing and footwear products such as business suits, casual clothing, childrens clothing and footwear, coats and hats, evening wear, shoe repairs, and underwear is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 235 out of 282.

Communication costs for various communication costs such as home telephone rental and call charges, internet connection and service provider fees, mobile / cellular phone contract and calls is relatively more expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 43 out of 282.

Education costs such as creche / pre-school fees, high school / college fees, primary school fees, and tertiary study fees is equally expensive on average compared to other cities with a rank of 149 out of 282.

Furniture & Appliance costs for furniture, household equipment and household appliances such as dvd player, fridge freezer, iron, kettle, toaster, microwave, light bulbs, television, vacuum cleaner, and washing machine is equally expensive on average compared to other cities with a rank of 129 out of 282.

Grocery costs for food, non-alcoholic beverages and cleaning material items such as baby consumables, baked goods, baking, canned foods, cheese, cleaning products, dairy, fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, fruit juices, meat, oil & vinegars, pet food, pre-prepared meals, sauces, seafood, snacks, soft drinks, spices & herbs is equally expensive on average compared to other cities with a rank of 175 out of 282.

Healthcare costs for general healthcare, medical and medical insurance such as general practitioner consultation rates, hospital private ward daily rate, non-prescription medicine, and private medical insurance / medical aid contributions is equally expensive on average compared to other cities with a rank of 116 out of 282.

Household costs for housing, water, electricity, household gas, household fuels, local rates and residential taxes such as house / flat mortgage, house / flat rental, household electricity consumption, household gas / fuel consumption, household water consumption, and local property rates / taxes / levies is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 271 out of 282.

Miscellaneous costs related to stationary, linen and general goods and services such as domestic help, dry cleaning, linen, office supplies, newspapers and magazines, and postage stamps is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 265 out of 282.

Personal Care costs for personal care products and services such as cosmetics, hair care, moisturizer / sun block, nappies, pain relief tablets, toilet paper, toothpaste, and soap / shampoo / conditioner is relatively more expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 15 out of 282.

Recreation and Culture costs such as books, camera film, cinema ticket, DVD and CDs, sports goods, and theatre tickets is relatively more expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 53 out of 282.

Restaurants, Meals Out and Hotel costs such as business dinner, dinner at a restaurant (non fast food), hotel rates, take away drinks and snacks (fast food) is equally expensive on average compared to other cities with a rank of 184 out of 282.

Transport costs for public transport, vehicle costs, vehicle fuel, vehicle insurance and vehicle maintenance such as hire purchase / lease of vehicle, petrol / diesel, public transport service maintenance, tires, vehicle Insurance, and vehicle purchase is relatively less expensive compared to other cities with a rank of 281 out of 282.

Your exact customized cost of living index for Bujumbura is based on which of the above basket groups as well as the comparison location you select in the Calculators.

In terms of the hardship people are likely to experience, assessed in global terms, Bujumbura is ranked as an extreme hardship location with a hardship index of 40%.

Mammas

MAWE from SETH CHASE on Vimeo.

· Females in developing countries on average carry 20 liters of water per day over 6 km.
· Globally, women account for the majority of people aged over 60 and over 80.
· Pregnant women in Africa are 180 times more likely to die than in Western Europe.
· 530,000 women die in pregnancy or childbirth each year.
· Of 1.2 billion people living in poverty worldwide, 70% are women.
· 80% of the world's 27 million refugees are women.
· Women own around only 1% of the world's land.
· AIDS sees women's life expectancy of 43 in Uganda and Zambia.
· Women are 2/3 of the 1 billion+ illiterate adults who have no access to basic education.

Film Racing | Issue #142

Film Racing | Issue #142

Sounds of Burundi

Here are the sounds of Burundi musicians you would never otherwise get to sample. I'm continuing on with a few more musicians, but these are all the songs I've recorded thus far. By listening to them all, you'll get a unique look into the lives, experiences, philosophies, and day to day of Burundi life and culture. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have.

Visage from SETH CHASE on Vimeo.

The way it is Africa -Africa local music project 4 from SETH CHASE on Vimeo.

Sabina - African local music project video 2 from SETH CHASE on Vimeo.

the DOVE - African local music project video 1 from SETH CHASE on Vimeo.

Moja - African local music project video 3 from SETH CHASE on Vimeo.

Still Haven't found what I'm looking for

Visage from SETH CHASE on Vimeo.

When I was a young formidable chap my father told me: "A philosopher can say in a thousand words, what a teacher can say in a hundred words, what a poet can say with one word."
I knew after hearing that quote that I wanted to be a philosopher, because saying something in a thousand words seemed to be a good idea. Plus I thought a thousand was a big number. Indeed, I was quite philosophical from my mid exciting teens - to my - mid to less formidable 20's. And now I prefer the poetic way of life. I'll soon correct this error but for now i'll bathe in it's sweet sounding glory of the word for a little longer, at least until my palms wrinkle.
The poet in this video is John Bosco, a local teacher here in the capital of Burundi. He loves music, his true passion, and this song is about his spiritual searching. What I like most about it, is that he really sort of got a Bono'ish feel. "I still haven't found what I'm looking for" is easily one of my favorite U2 songs along with "one" like almost every other U2 fan under the sun. You can't tell us cliché U2 fans apart, we look alike, talk alike, and dress the same. But I'm the one in Burundi, and you're the one reading this from a comfortable office, or room, somewhere in the developed world. And one of your internet tabs is on a comedic utube short, another one is on your email account, while skype rests in the background, and when you hear the sound of someone approaching you'll shrink all the tabs revealing your excel spread sheet just in time for when your boss, or spouse, or friend walks in on you with less than groundbreaking news, and it's likely that they are U2 fans of the same exact sort.

So John Bosco isn't the typical Christian. His view of the Trinity isn't comfortable:

The one with the Hidden face= Father
The one in the middle of misery= Son
The one with the forgotten face= Spirit

I'm willing to bet when most people picture Jesus they don't picture a man with many sorrows, a suffering being, that's why we put up crosses everywhere as reminders, but they don't seem to work like they were intended to. Because now you can get cross jewlry of gold and silver. What would the "light" of this John Bosco Trinity be like I wonder: not so bright and Christmassy I would guess, not just the giver of blessings. This seems to be the tri-unity of trials. The first time I heard the term Tri-unity was in 1997 at Grace Bible Church in Bozeman Montana. I remember jotting it down.

Some Christians grow up in a comfortable world, with electricity, peace, jobs, internet cafes, NBC, and FOX news. Some Christians grow up in a painful world of poverty, war, rape, theft, violence, refugee camps, pain, and no NBC or FOX news. Both study from the same book, but what's taken away from that book is sometimes miles apart. I grew up in the former environment. John, the ladder.

The Person with the hidden face - The Father is ever unseen by mankind, though in the time of the Son, if you saw the Son, then you Saw the Father. A thirty three year window (or there abouts). But after the 30's A.D. there is no chance to see the Son, save via visions and such, which many around the world claim to have. But to see the Person with the hidden face with your own eyes… No. Hidden.

The Person in the middle of misery - had 33 years (give or take) of living and serving in the middle of misery. Took on the weight of the world, taught, healed, prophesied, and did a myriad of other activities. 3 1/2 years of ministering in misery as it were, no retreats, no benifits, no social security. No executive desk, Black leather chair with wheels, AC, comfortable bed, message therapy, pain meds... nothing. Fox hole, nomadic type lifestyle. Maybe even one pair of sandals, though this issue is hotly debated among scholars.

The person with the forgotten face - I imagine that the Helper would have a forgotten face, if you saw friends, family, neighbors, killing each other. You have forgotten many things if find you are killing your brother. You have forgotten many things if you find you hate your brother. Christian killing Christian, the face of the Helper, forgotten.

John, searched in time, space, in the good, and in bad, among powerful men, but never found what he was looking for. Then in a moment of his life, he had a vision, and when God visited his house, (the french is literally "When You knocked on my house, You had the face of my Brother") John saw that God, had the face of his Brother: for John a shocking revelation. And ultimately John didn't find God among the rulers of the Earth, rather a child with arms extended toward His Father.

By all accounts a well written song. Personal wisdom, insight, experience, self, and much more, all poured into the lyrics.
Word Count 877.