LAND: Hard-hitting trailer for feature documentary on foreign development in Nicaragua

March 15th, 2010 | By Joshua | No Comments »

Wow, it’s good to see someone taking this issue by the horns and giving it a good shake! Watch the LAND trailer from Canadian filmmaker Julian Pinder and Six Island Productions. The description reads:

“…American developers charge on, transforming jungle and beach into resorts, hotels, and gated communities. Unexpectedly, the former revolutionaries sweep back into power and re-claim the country. This modern day wild west erupts into a battle between former revolutionaries, angry locals, and foreign developers over the land beneath their feet. But progress marches on … Or does it?”

The trailer features everyone from Comandante Zero to Jimmy Carter to gringo developers and expats … this baby is going to ruffle some serious feathers on real-estate row in San Juan del Sur and Granada! It says the movie was short-listed for the Cannes Film Festival and will be released this summer 2010. Can’t wait….

Rest In Peace Salvador Cardenal, Nicaraguan poet, songwriter, musician

March 10th, 2010 | By Joshua | No Comments »

Nicaragua has lost one of its most iconic poets, Salvador Cardenal, one-half of the famed Duo Guardabarranco. Salvador died this week from a blood vessel disease called cryoglobulinemia. He was a foundation in the Nicaraguan folk music scene, known throughout Latin America, and will be missed by many.

Enjoy the many videos, tributes, and interviews on his site: http://salvadorcardenal.com/

Photo-essay on gold mining in Nicaragua

March 3rd, 2010 | By Joshua | No Comments »

It doesn’t happen very often, so I get a cheap thrill whenever Nicaragua gets BoingBoinged:

HOWTO mine gold in Nicaragua

“A photo-essay by James Rodriguez documenting the history and consequences of mining activities, both artisanal and industrial, in the so-called mining triangle in northeastern Nicaragua.” Rodriguez is an independent documentary photographer based in Guatemala. His intimate images from the Mining Triangle in Nicaragua’s deepest mountain interior are fascinating to me, as this is one region of the country I still have not visited.

Three-for-one book review on Perceptive Travel

March 1st, 2010 | By Joshua | No Comments »

In this month’s Perceptive Travel book review, I take a look at three new titles: Chuck Thompson’s follow–up to Smile When You’re Lying, a bizarre collection by Andrew Zimmern, and an epic, long–gone journey written to a lost son by Bill Raney. I laughed the most during Thompson’s To Hellholes and Back, in which the author marches out to single-handedly combat the “pussification of America” (and I cheered him on as I read, scratched my belly, and sipped a beer)…. Enjoy->

From the Nicaragua T-shirt files…

February 28th, 2010 | By Joshua | 1 Comment »

I took this photo in northern Nicaragua in 1998. “DON’T BLAME ME I VOTED REPUBLICAN,” walking past the regional FSLN office in La Trinidad, Estelí.

Name the location of this backpacker mural and I’ll give you a high five

February 27th, 2010 | By Joshua | 1 Comment »

Though I’m pretty sure they painted over him years ago, I have a hunch that his legacy lives on. If you have a memory of this flat-headed, rosy-cheeked gringo and his utterly unique and funky home, please share it here and prove me right. Bonus points for sensory details. (more…)

Live earthquake coverage from Chile—tsunami headed toward Central America (and many other places)

February 27th, 2010 | By Joshua | No Comments »

Watching this now, the tsunami damage is coming in, entire neighborhoods erased: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/tv-de-chile

“Chile earthquake: First-hand notes from Camilo of Disorder Magazine”

Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and El Salvador are all on the tsunami warning list. “All shores are at risk no matter which direction they face.” Get to higher ground, mis amigos costeños.

Tsunami impact live updates: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/27/tsunami-warnings-live-upd_n_479376.html

Earthquake: HOW YOU CAN HELP - MANY LINKS–>

New surfing directory for southwest Nicaragua

February 19th, 2010 | By Joshua | No Comments »

I just discovered www.sanjuansurf.com, a new website with a truly stunning assortment of images, and looks like quite a bit of practical information as well (equipment, accommodations, rentals, real estate, etc.). Creator Sean Dennis says it is “basically a directly of info on the area for locals and tourists, and has daily photos of the surf and life around town, as well as all the events and night life.” I especially like this round-up of volunteering opportunities in San Juan del Sur. Nice job, guys, felicidades!

“Forests to Burn” on WORLD HUM Travel Channel Blog Today

February 12th, 2010 | By Joshua | No Comments »

Pictured here: Ed Waldron, one of my crew leaders in the summer of 2003, watches a tree torch out in the Inyo National Forest. This was my final assignment that season. It was an awesome, creeping fire in the Golden Trout Wilderness and we spent two frosty-morning weeks camped at nine thousand feet. Each morning, we crawled out of our tents, ate oatmeal standing up in “breakfast boots” (unlaced, calf-high fire boots), watched the sun rise, stood around the fire, then slip the first wad of chew behind post-coffee lips as we received the day’s assignment. On this day, Ed and I were watching the southern flank burn.

To find out why we weren’t putting it out, read my story: “Forests to Burn: Joshua Berman spent a glorious summer exploring some of America’s most beautiful wilderness areas — with a drip torch in his hand”

My guest column in the Denver Post today

February 10th, 2010 | By Joshua | 1 Comment »

Last Saturday, I saw two planes collide north of Boulder. Today, I published this short essay in the Denver Post:

“An eyewitness recalls the Boulder plane crash”

I wrote it late Sunday night, laying in bed…