Thomas Kostigen has traveled the world– exploring environmentally significant places on Earth and explaining how everyday actions matter. His new book, You Are Here: The Surprising Link Between What We Do and What That Does to the Planet, draws from his world travels to demonstrate the impact of our actions on the planet. As an advocate for corporate social responsibility and environmental awareness, Kositgen aims to raise social and environmental awareness.

1. What’s your favorite political movie?

PRIMARY COLORS. I felt was smart and just lampoonish enough to be completely accurate in its portrayal of politicians.

2. What role do you feel art plays in politics?

Art plays a HUGE role in politics. Going all the way back to Plato, you can see how expression and philosophy weave together to create culture as we know it. Of course, that is a very highbrow way of thinking today, gosh darn it. But I think intellectual curiosity is the hallmark of both art and (should be) politics to promulgate society’s evolution. You betcha I do.

3. What do you think is the biggest issue for the next generation of Americans?

The biggest issue for the next generation of Americans is going to be balancing population growth with limited natural resources.

4. Who was the first political candidate you were excited to vote for and why?

Well, I went to college in the early 80s. So Ronald Reagan actually got me excited. He gave us at least a sense of purpose as a nation and philosophy – even if I completely disagreed with him.

5. What factors are important to you in choosing a president?

A president should be presidential. By that I mean intellectually curious, accessible to the masses, and stalwart in principles.

6. What issues would you like to see politicians focus more on?

Of course I would like to see more emphasis on natural resources. Everything stems from the basics. And we are eyeing a water crisis, food crisis, and pollution crisis. Those are things pretty low on the pyramid (the lowest) and we need to give them the attention they deserve.

7. Which issues would you like to see politicians focus less on?

I think immigration is an issue that is blown way out of proportion. And I think Social Security is an issue that will take care of itself (check the S.S. web site; we aren’t going to run out of funding any time soon).

8. Which candidate’s initiatives do you feel better address environmental concerns?

I actually think both candidates’ environmental policies are equally vague.

9. This is your soapbox – shout it out! What do you need to get off your chest?

Water! A child under the age of five dies every 12 seconds because of a lack of access to fresh water. We need to increase the amount of fresh water on the planet by 20% over the next decade to meet needs. Yet, almost the exact same amount of water has existed on the planet since dinosaurs roamed. Think about that. Thirty-six states will face droughts over the next five years, according to the Bush Administration. The Great Lakes, which service 10% of the US population, are at their lowest point in 80 years. Ninety cities still dump sewage into the Great Lakes. We haven’t updated the Clean Water Act since 1972. It’s going to cost at least $3 trillion to update the water systems in the US. It’s a huge story and crisis. But it’s so scary no one much speaks about it.

10. Do you have any recommended links, books or movies so people can learn more about the issues you care about?

Of course, go to www.readyouarehere.com [www.readyouarehere.com]. That’s the site for my book, You Are Here, and my columns and blogs. Also, here’s one not many may have read: ethicalcorp.com [www.ethicalcorp.com]. Great stuff.

Extra Credit: Fill in the blank. _________ for change.

STOP AND THINK ABOUT WHERE SOMETHING YOU ARE ABOUT TO BUY OR USE COMES FROM for a change.

Lesley Arfin is the author of Dear Diary, a memoir based on her high school journals and reflected upon in the present. Arfin’s high school year’s include the typical boy obsession the not so typical drug use turned into heroin addiction. Dear Diary is now available in paperback [www.amazon.com].

1. What’s your favorite political movie?

REDS and THE SOUND OF MUSIC.

2. What role do you feel art plays in politics?

It’s impossible for the two not to collide, considering the government shapes the cultural landscape of each generation. A very important role I’d say.

3. What do you think is the biggest issue for the next generation of
Americans?

Health care vs environment.

4. Who was the first political candidate you were excited to vote for and
why?

Bill Clinton because I was old enough.

5. What factors are important to you in choosing a president?

Has to be waaaay smarter than anyone I’ve ever met. Has to be pro-choice.

6. What issues would you like to see politicians focus more on?

Healthcare, gay rights, all the usual liberal stuff.

7. Which issues would you like to see politicians focus less on?

War

8. Which candidate’s initiatives do you feel better address environmental concerns?

Obama.

9. Do you have any recommended links, books or movies so people can learn more about the issues you care about?

the History of Satanism [www.youtube.com]

About Dear Diary

“Here’s your chance to have all the benefits of a tortured adolescence without the shitty childhood. Congratulations!”

-Sarah Silverman on Dear Diary

Comprised entirely of real diary entries gathered over New York writer Lesley Arfin’s teenage years and beyond, Dear Diary hilariously captures everything that makes us cringe about adolescence: the awkward relationships, the social posturing, and the sex and drugs that swirl around both like a flock of diseased pigeons. Arfin manages to inject humor into troubled years of parental abuse, tales of drug addiction, and a whole pile of insecurity.

Dear Diary began as a wildly popular column in Vice Magazine which would start with Lesley’s diary entry and then update the reader with the perspective 10 years gives you. The book takes this process one step further as Lesley, now 27, tracks down the “frienemies” listed in the entry and asks them probing questions like, “Did you french Josh?”

Dear Diary blurs the distinction between past and present, instead offering a stark continuous and cathartic commentary on the author’s life, noting every embarrassing detail and effusively documenting every mistake without a trace of guilt or remorse. This is Lesley’s story, true, but it’s also every girl’s story. Readers of her generation will be stunned to see how similar their ups and downs are when mirrored by Lesley’s. From punk music to the burgeoning rave culture at the time, or as Lesley herself states, “being obsessed with boys that look like Harry Potter and having my heart broken by them.” Much more than mere diary entries, this book is a reflection of life and the unintended greatness of the mistakes we all make along the way.

Dear Diary is unlike anything else, a truly original work fully representative of the current zeitgeist, a transcendent Go Ask Alice from the post-Kids generation of New York.

Chris Elam, celebrated Dancer/Performance Artist weighs in on the ten questions. To find out more about Elam and see video of his performances visit Sundance Channel’s spotlight on Chris Elam and Misnomer Dancer Theater [www.sundancechannel.com].

1. What’s your favorite political movie?

THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND

2. What role do you feel art plays in politics?

Art moves us. It inspires thinking, reflecting, and taking action. It reminds us of what’s important and makes us confront what we like/dislike, believe in, dream about and fear. We tap into ourselves – our brains and our bodies – more fully when engaging with art. This yields an increased inquisitiveness, questioning, and identification which we bring to everything – including politics. I suspect that a population that is artistically-engaged and attuned will be more prone to be thoughtful about political discussion and action.

3. What do you think is the biggest issue for the next generation of Americans?

I would like us to focus on education. But I think that the first thing we need to do as the basis for everything else is to end the war in Iraq – the war is like a gigantic hole in the bottom of our bucket and we are fighting against a current when lives, finances, and energy is being sucked out of our collective consciousness and country.

4. Who was the first political candidate you were excited to vote for and why?

I’m 32 and the first candidate I voted for was Bill Clinton in 1996. I followed politics much less then than I do now, but he was clearly for much more of the things I believed in than Bob Dole.

5. What factors are important to you in choosing a president?

A display of sound judgment, an organized and lucid capacity to think, and an inclination to consult with advisers with a wide range of perspectives.

6. What issues would you like to see politicians focus more on?

Education. Support for the arts. Entrepreneurship programs. Sound fiscal reform. Immigration. Improved social services. Lobbying reform. Actually, that’s a pretty wide list…

7. Which issues would you like to see politicians focus less on?

Lipstick.

8. Which candidate’s initiatives do you feel better address environmental concerns?

Is there any question here? Obama!

9. This is your soapbox – shout it out! What do you need to get off your chest?

Can we PLEASE pay more attention to FACTS than rhetoric? I am so tired of blatant lies by candidates getting published and corrections getting modest coverage.

And sorry McCain, of course this election is about ISSUES!

10. Do you have any recommended links, books or movies so people can learn more about the issues you care about?

FactCheck.org [www.factcheck.org]
Americans For The Arts [www.americansforthearts.org]
Kiva [www.kiva.org]

My own project, in addition to Misnomer’s dance company activities, is our Audience Engagement Platform, or AEP, a system we are developing to give people online more direct ways to participate and engage with art, artists, and the artistic process. You can check out an animation about it at misnomer.org/aep

Blatant show-promotion: Now that you’ve heard my words, come see my art! Please join Misnomer in NYC for the world premiere of BEING TOGETHER, three original dances with live original music by Evan Ziporyn. The show runs December 4-7 & 11-14 at the Joyce SoHo (tickets: www.joyce.org [www.joyce.org]).

To learn more about Misnomer, and join our e-newsletter email list, please visit www.misnomer.org [www.misnomer.org].

1. What’s your favorite political movie?

THE CANDIDATE, Warner Bros. 1972

2. What role do you feel art plays in politics?

Art should be above politics but rather a beacon

3. What do you think is the biggest issue for the next generation of Americans?

To elect new progressive-minded leaders for change. We cannot afford more of the politics of the last 8 years.

4. Who was the first political candidate you were excited to vote for and why?

Bobby Kennedy. Why? It speaks for itself… role of humanity and compassion in politics.

5. What factors are important to you in choosing a president?

Sense of history, foreign culture, one world, open mind, truthful.

6. What issues would you like to see politicians focus more on?

New energy policy, which truly seizes inherent economic opportunities like job creation and market growth… do the tough stuff. The environment would make huge gains.

7. Which issues would you like to see politicians focus less on?

Their own special interests

8. Which candidate’s initiatives do you feel better address environmental concerns?

Obama clearly.

9. This is your soapbox – shout it out! What do you need to get off your chest?

Get rid of the current administration profile of ideologues, cronyism and incompetence.

10. Do you have any recommended links, books or movies so people can learn more about the issues you care about?

Jane Mayer’s book, The Dark Side: The Inside Story of How the War on Terror Turned into a War on American Ideals.

Frank Rich’s articles (New York Times)

Extra Credit: Fill in the blank. _________ for change.

A REAL CHANGE for a change.

1. What’s your favorite political movie?

My father’s films: ROME, OPEN CITY and PAISAN

2. What role do you feel art plays in politics?

Art reflects the emotion of the people. Art provides a glimpse into how we feel as a population.

3. What do you think is the biggest issue for the next generation of Americans?

Protection of the environment

4. Who was the first political candidate you were excited to vote for and why?

Al Gore. I became a US citizen right before the election and this was the first time I was able to vote as an American

5. What factors are important to you in choosing a president?

Sincerity and pragmatism. I’m looking for a candidate that can admit problems and can find a way to solve them

6. What issues would you like to see politicians focus more on?

The economy and how to restore America’s reputation abroad. We also need to learn moderation and prudence, especially around our consumption, and how this can help protect our environment.

7. Which issues would you like to see politicians focus less on?

Political attacks. They distort the truth through sound bites. It’s hard to sort through the noise and understand their positions

8. Which candidate’s initiatives do you feel better address environmental concerns?

Obama

9. This is your soapbox – shout it out! What do you need to get off your chest?

America has always been a role model to the rest of the world. We need to restore our reputation abroad

10. Do you have any recommended links, books or movies so people can learn more about the issues you care about?

Learn history. It’s amazing how things repeat themselves. Look back to look forward.

Extra Credit: Fill in the blank. _________ for change.

OBAMA for a change.

Check out Isabella Rossellini’s GREEN PORNO [www.sundancechannel.com] as featured on SUNDANCE CHANNEL and find out what kind of GREEN PORNO star you are!