VOA – CONNECT
EPISODE #146
AIR DATE 10 30 2020
TRANSCRIPT
OPEN ((VO/NAT))
((Banner))
The Cutting Edge
((SOT))
((Zack Jonas, Master Bladesmith, Owner, Jonas Blade
and Metalwork))
Just about every tool in my studio can hurt me or worse,
quickly or slowly.
((Animation Transition))
((Banner))
Inspiring Women in Tech
((SOT))
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor at The University of Toledo))
I just realized that in the 21st century, it is unacceptable that
people die because of the lack of electricity.
((Animation Transition))
((Banner))
Dancing in the Light
((SOT))
((Gail Bryan-Vill, Host))
We put a positive message at the end of it. So, when they
go, to remember to love yourself, to remember that you're
worthy, to be smart, to be strong and don't give up.
((Open Animation))
BLOCK A
((PKG)) KNIFE MAKER
((Banner: Art as Work))
((Reporter/Camera: Gabrielle Weiss))
((Map: Wilmot, New Hampshire))
((Main characters: 1 male))
((NATS))
((Zack Jonas, Master Bladesmith, Owner, Jonas Blade
and Metalwork))
I don’t think there’s any real art without craft and I don’t think
there’s any real craft without art. But I had a debate with an
art professor at the School of Museum of Fine Arts and this
was a nice guy. I really liked him. I liked his class. He was
a drawing teacher. And I was working on a knife during the
course of a semester, and then he wrapped his hand around
the blade, covering the blade and he looked at the handle
and he goes, “This is really beautiful. I love what you’ve
done with the materials and texture, you know, colors and all
of that. If it didn’t have a blade, then it would be art. Then it
would be beautiful.” And I was like, “Come on”. I just rolled
my eyes at him.
((NATS))
((Zack Jonas, Master Bladesmith, Owner, Jonas Blade
and Metalwork))
My name is Zack Jonas and I’m a Master bladesmith
working out of New Hampshire. I make custom knives in all
shapes and sizes, anything from hunting knives to cooking
knives to samurai swords.
I studied philosophy and I enjoyed critical thinking and
debating and all of that. So, after college, I went, I got a job
at a corporate law firm in Boston. And the idea of having to
pay your dues for 15 years before life becomes anything
other than a professional misery, you know. You’re a
paralegal, you’re filing, you’re doing whatever you’re doing,
which was a good test for me to realize that that field was
not going to be my passion. Then I found my way into this
class for bladesmithing and fell in love with it. So, nothing
linear about the path but that’s how I ended up here.
((NATS))
((Zack Jonas, Master Bladesmith, Owner, Jonas Blade
and Metalwork))
This is one of my favorite knives I’ve ever made and this
sword is kind of its spiritual big brother. There’s a lot of
similarity to the shape and the flow of it. And this is a really
complicated piece and I got a lot of the ideas from this.
((NATS))
((Zack Jonas, Master Bladesmith, Owner, Jonas Blade
and Metalwork))
In theory, the title of Master smith means that I have the
skills to do almost literally anything that someone can come
up with or at least to learn how to do it. So, I do a lot of
kitchen knives. I do a lot of hunting knives. Desk knives,
things like that, letter openers. And more elaborate projects,
like swords and daggers and art pieces, you know, pieces
that are built to be functional but have enough time put into
the appearance that they are meant more for a display
purpose.
((NATS/SOT: Zack Jones
There’s yours coming up.))
((Zack Jonas, Master Bladesmith, Owner, Jonas Blade
and Metalwork))
Once I realized that bladesmithing could be a career, I, that
became very appealing to me pretty quickly. But there’s a
lot more that goes into being a professional knifemaker than
just making the knives. I generally work seven days a week.
I’m usually in the studio by seven o’clock in the morning. I
don’t resent that. I love it. I love doing it and when I’m not in
the studio, I’m usually thinking about the studio. But if you
want to make this a business, well, you have to run it as a
business. Well, I could quite happily be in the shop ten
hours a day, seven days a week. And then, there’s also
paying the bills for the studio and communicating with
customers and keeping my order books, you know, tidy, and
shipping and going to shows and applying to shows and all
of those things that it’s just, there’s so much more to it than
just doing the work.
There was a funny moment early on after I built the studio. I
woke up on a Tuesday or something like that and I just didn’t
feel great. And I said to my wife, “I don’t feel great”. And
she said, “Don’t go to work”. And I said, “What do you
mean, don’t go to work? It’s a Tuesday.” And she looked at
me like I was crazy. She goes, “You work for yourself.” And
I went, “Oh yeah, I don’t have to go to work today.”
((NATS))
((Zack Jonas, Master Bladesmith, Owner, Jonas Blade
and Metalwork))
Obviously, that’s dangerous, that’s a slippery slope and you
can just decide not to go in and then nothing gets done.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Zack Jonas, Master Bladesmith, Owner, Jonas Blade
and Metalwork))
One of the things that I love about knives is their connection
to the ancient past and I mean truly ancient past. I mean,
just imagine life today, out in the woods. If you had to go out
in the woods and survive for a week and you couldn’t cut
anything, that would be tricky. So, the amount of power that
mankind gained by adding the cutting edge to his, you know,
arsenal is huge. One of the things that appeals to me so
strongly about bladesmithing is that I’m taking these raw
materials, a bar of steel, a block of wood, maybe a sheet of
metal, and you shape those from, you know, essentially
nothing into these objects that are not only beautiful but also
powerful and useful tools and have a deep connection to
history and culture. So, I really enjoy that aspect of it. But
it’s hard, it’s hard work and it’s pretty dangerous. You know,
just about every tool in my studio can hurt me or worse,
quickly or slowly. But I feel really fortunate to be able to do
what I do and to have my life set up the way that it is. I get
to do what I love. I get to do it as much as I want, pretty
much, which is a real, I mean, it’s a good place to be.
((NATS/MUSIC))
TEASE ((VO/NAT))
Coming up…..
((Banner))
Hi-Tech Tomatoes
((SOT))
These are so important for us because we depend on them
for our quality and our size of our tomatoes.
BREAK ONE
((ANIMATION EXPLAINER -- W/ GFX, CAPTIONS,
PHOTOS))
US PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 2020
BUMP IN ((ANIM))
BLOCK B
((PKG)) HIGH--TECH TOMATOES
((Previously aired April 2019))
((Banner: Hi-Tech Tomatoes))
((Reporter: Crystal Dilworth))
((Adapted by: Martin Secrest))
((VOA Persian))
((Map: Camarillo, California))
((Main character: 1 male))
((MUSIC))
((Popup Banner:
Houweling’s grows tomatoes in a 50 hectare sustainable
greenhouse.
The greenhouse is 24 times more productive than a
conventional field.))
((Casey Houweling, Owner, Houweling’s Inc.))
Obviously there’s glass up there. That’s to let the sun
through. There’s nothing better than the sun. There’s no
artificial light that can replicate the growing capabilities of the
sun and all the other great things that a man-made light bulb
can do. We turn everything from the nutrients, combined
with the sun, into the plant factory which actually is alive and
it moves and it does all kinds of things and that transforms it
into tomatoes. It’s really quite a complex system because
plants have balances. They either want to produce leaves or
they want to produce fruit. You want to encourage the fruit
but not too much, because you need leaves, because these
plants that are in here will last for a year. So, we want the
factory up top to continue to produce the sugars to keep that
plant going but we don’t want to starve it of sugars and say
we’re going to steer it all to the tomatoes. These rows, from
one end to the other, are 125 meters long. But every plant
down here is the same and that’s the key to growing in a
system like this.
((MUSIC))
((Popup Banner:
Water for the greenhouse is collected from rainfall on the
roof.))
((Casey Houweling, Owner, Houweling’s Inc.))
So, every drop of water the plants get, they use and what
they don’t use gets recycled, sterilized and resent out to the
plants. We use high quality fertilizers, which is nutrients, you
know that. I mean, basically what the plant gets is what we
as humans need to survive. Through that whole process, we
use probably about 10 percent of what a field farmer uses to
produce the same amount of product.
I think one of the biggest challenges in the world from a food
perspective is the imbalances of the rich and the poor
countries. Really, this kind of technology and other
technologies, we have the capabilities to feed the world, to
feed double the population of the world easily with utilizing
what it is. But it takes money. It takes planning. It takes
foresight. And you know, do we, as a world population, take
this seriously enough to work together for the common good
and do it in a manner where you can do this
profitably? Because I think often times what gets left out of
this, is the economics behind it. You know, it has to
generate wealth. My heart goes out for the people that can’t
feed their kids, right? I can do a little. You can do a little. I
think that together if we all do a little, then we can start
making some really big differences.
((MUSIC))
((PKG)) GIRL POWER
((Previously aired March 2020))
((Banner: Empowerment))
((Reporter/Camera: Jeff Swicord))
((Editor: Jacquelyn De Phillips))
((Map: Toledo, Ohio))
((Main character: 1 female))
((MUSIC/NATS))
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor, The University of Toledo))
I was born in Kinshasa, the capital city of the Congo and I
grew up in Kikwit which is a small town. So, it has brick
houses, roads and everything except that there was no
running water, no electricity.
((NATS/SOT: Dr. Mubenga
FS 275. 75 watts each.))
((MUSIC/NATS))
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor, The University of Toledo))
When I was 17, I got really sick and when we called the
doctor, she told me, “You have appendicitis. You need to go
under surgery right away.” Unfortunately, there was no
electricity in the general hospital. So, for three days, I was
between life and death.
((NATS/SOT: Dr. Mubenga
I’m going to check this and make sure everything…..this one
is a little bit…..))
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor, The University of Toledo))
After those three days, where I was really in pain and I was
scared, I find my motivation to become an electrical
engineer.
((NATS/SOT: Dr. Mubenga
This is good. If they break, the whole line is broken. There
is this connection here.))
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor, The University of Toledo))
I just realized that in the 21st century, it is unacceptable that
people die because of the lack of electricity.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor, The University of Toledo))
I came to the United States to study electrical engineering at
The University of Toledo. I was very interested in renewable
energy. So, when I was doing my undergrad, I learned to
design and install solar systems and completed my
bachelor's, my master’s and my Ph.D. here.
((NATS/SOT: Dr. Mubenga
So, this week, we are going to continue with introduction to
C and some of…..))
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor, The University of Toledo))
I could see that it was very important not only to find
solutions to problems but to teach others how to find
solutions and how to implement those solutions. So, that's
why I became a professor to pass on the knowledge I've
learned.
((NATS/SOT: Dr. Mubenga
This is a way to get the answer.))
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor, The University of Toledo))
Typically I have zero women. We are lucky to have three
women in class.
((NATS/SOT: Dr. Mubenga
You got it? Okay, good.))
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor, The University of Toledo))
Why do we have few women in the STEM field? Science,
technology, engineering and math.
((NATS/SOT: Dr. Mubenga
Oh, Connor. Jennifer?))
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor, The University of Toledo))
It's very easy when you go in a store, you see all the toys for
women and girls are dolls and things like that and for the
boys you would have tools. So unfortunately, society is
pretty much sending a message that science, technology,
engineering and math is for men.
((NATS/SOT: Dr. Mubenga
And then you have the LED here.))
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor, The University of Toledo))
Right now, there's a lot of work that's being done to say, “No,
you are a woman. You can do STEM.” That message
needs to be sent early.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Courtesy: Dr. Sandrine Mubenga))
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor, The University of Toledo))
After I got my professional engineer license, I started SMIN
Power Group because that was my dream. In 2013, then we
opened the office in Kinshasa. We installed solar systems
and designed solar systems for communities in the Congo. I
always wanted to lead a company that would provide energy
solutions in places like Kikwit. It's not as much the money
but it's the social impact coming from my experience, you
know, almost dying because of the lack of electricity. It was
a huge effort to educate the customer. And we were
pleased to see that after this effort, that more people are
interested in solar in the Congo. So, it's been a positive
experience.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Popup Banner: Toledo’s Science Center, Imagination
Station, hosted a Girl Power! Event.))
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor, The University of Toledo))
The University News Network wrote an article. It was called,
Women Killing It In Sustainability and they listed me. And
Imagination Station read the interview. So, they contacted
me. They said, “We are doing the Girl Power! event to
introduce girls from Toledo to the STEM field. Would you
like to be part of it?” So, that’s how I was invited to be the
keynote this year.
((NATS/SOT: Girl Power! Host
Please help me give a big round of applause to our amazing
speaker, Dr. Sandrine Mubenga.))
((NATS/SOT: Dr. Mubenga
Thank you very much for this introduction.))
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor, The University of Toledo))
I believe they had about 200 girls attending. It’s always
energizing to be around young people full of hope, you
know. I just love that positive energy.
((NATS/SOT: Dr. Mubenga
So that together we can find solutions to our problems.))
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor, The University of Toledo))
I was surprised by the level of maturity of some of those
girls. I remember one of them asked me if it was difficult to
be a mother and to pursue a career in STEM. She must
have been 10. And I realized that often times that is a
reason that would slow women to go into the STEM field.
So, I explained to the girl that I basically had my children as I
was building my career. If you have a good support system,
if you are well organized, you can pursue your dream, have
your kids, have your company.
((NATS))
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor, The University of Toledo))
I think the best way to encourage more women and young
girls is be there.
((NATS/SOT: Dr. Mubenga
You are a natural. Wow!))
((NATS/SOT: Instructor
Yeah, she’s getting it.))
((NATS/SOT: Dr. Mubenga
She’s good.))
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor, The University of Toledo))
First, show them that it is possible to be done.
((NATS/SOT: Instructor
Great!))
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor, The University of Toledo))
I think it's possible that one day, half of my class will be
women.
((NATS/SOT: Instructor
Put your code right there.))
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor, The University of Toledo))
If we focus more into introducing STEM early on, in the
school program.
((NATS))
((NATS/SOT: Little girl
Thank you.))
((NATS/SOT: Instructor
You’re welcome.))
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor, The University of Toledo))
So, this is what we would like to see.
((NATS))
TEASE ((VO/NAT))
Coming up…..
((Banner))
Positive Vibes
((SOT))
((Gail Bryan-Vill, Host))
We need human interaction in a positive way to balance all
that negativity out. You need the positivity. And so that's
what we're trying to do, bring positivity into this space that
we have.
BREAK TWO
((ANIMATION EXPLAINER -- W/ GFX, CAPTIONS,
PHOTOS))
US PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 2020
BUMP IN ((ANIM))
BLOCK C
((PKG)) BUILDING DESKS
((Banner: Desks During the Pandemic))
((Reporter: Faiza Elmasry))
((Camera: Mike Burke))
((Map: Chantilly, Virginia))
((Main character: 1 male))
((Sub characters: 2 female))
((NATS))
((Colby Samide, Founder, Desks for Distance))
My name is Colby Samide. I'm 17 years old and I'm a junior
at Woodgrove High School. Right now, we're at Moss
Building and Design in Chantilly. They've offered me space
for a build day.
((NATS))
((Colby Samide, Founder, Desks for Distance))
We're building 50 desks. 30 of them are going to schools
and 20 are going to kids in need who reached out to me
personally.
((Courtesy: Desks by Dads - Jess Al Berrellez))
I came across a group called Desks by Dads in Maryland.
It’s a group of parents who are creating desks for children in
need and giving them through the school system. I saw the
idea and I've wanted to give back for a while and now after
moving here, because I love this community and I figured
this was a great way to do it, to use my skills.
((NATS))
((Colby Samide, Founder, Desks for Distance))
It's super fun working with wood and seeing what I can
create and I really enjoy it.
((Courtesy: Colby Samide))
When I first put out my Facebook page saying what I was
going to do, it was, it kind of went semi viral in the
community overnight.
((Courtesy: Colby Samide))
Everyone just kept re-sharing it. So, donations were
plentiful. People have been really generous with it. So,
thankfully, donations have covered everything. So, that's
awesome. I'm just really glad the community has been able
to fund this project.
((NATS))
((Jennifer Zschunke, Manager, Community Relations,
Moss Building & Design))
I think that Colby is doing a wonderful thing.
((Courtesy: Desks for Distance))
We noticed that there was a new organization that popped
up on Facebook.
((NATS))
((Voice of Colby Samide, Founder, Desks for Distance))
Hey everybody, this is Colby Samide from Desks for
Distance and today I'm going to be showing you how to build
this simple yet good looking desk.
((NATS))
((Jennifer Zschunke, Manager, Community Relations,
Moss Building & Design))
We realized very quickly that this was something that we
could get involved in because he had received so many
orders for desks that he couldn't fulfill them quickly enough.
Desks are hard to get these days. Once most of the schools
in the area turned to virtual learning, we kind of pounced
upon this idea to do a Build-a-Palooza as we call it for today.
We have a wonderful relationship with Lowe's Home
Improvement. They provided all the materials. We provided
a lot of the labor to put the desks together are most MOSS
employees and we're asking for volunteers all day long to
help sand and finish the desks.
((NATS))
((Jennifer Zschunke, Manager, Community Relations,
Moss Building & Design))
And we also had our lunch catered by Sultry Soul Foods.
((NATS:
Start here, then go here.))
((NATS))
((Jennifer Zschunke, Manager, Community Relations,
Moss Building & Design))
We reached out to My Guys Moving and Storage and they're
helping to deliver the desks to those who have reached out
to ask Colby for the desks.
((NATS:
Slide in, perfect.))
((NATS))
((Colby Samide, Founder, Desks for Distance))
Delivering the desk is the best part.
((Courtesy: Colby Samide))
I try to deliver them whenever I can which just makes me
feel really good when I see the face of the parents or the
kids when they see the desk.
((Dylan Samide, Colby’s Mother))
((Courtesy: Colby Samide))
Ever since I can remember, little toddler loved to build things
and sort of tinker around with how things would work or fit
together.
((NATS))
((Dylan Samide, Colby’s Mother))
He has built me several things. He was sweet. He surprised
me for my birthday with a daybed, bought the materials and
made it in the garage. I think he's learned so much just
when he started doing this, I guess, three-and-a-half weeks
ago…..
((NATS: Colby Samide
So now, we have to position the frame on top of the board.))
((Dylan Samide, Colby’s Mother))
((Courtesy: Colby Samide))
…..which is the initial wanting to really, you know, give back
and help a few families if he could.
((NATS))
((Colby Samide, Founder, Desks for Distance))
((Courtesy: Colby Samide))
That's what my main goal is right now, to try to get the
message out and have people recreate this idea in their
communities.
((NATS))
((PKG)) NYC BLOCK PARTIES
((Banner: Dance it Out!))
((Reporter: Anna Nelson))
((Camera: Natalia Latukhina, Vladimir Badikov))
((Adapted by: Zdenko Novacki))
((Map: New York, New York))
((Main characters: 1 female))
((Sub characters: 2 female; 3 male))
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Popup Banner:
What started as a salute to pandemic frontline workers, has
evolved in this New York neighborhood ))
((Gail Bryan-Vill, Host))
I heard banging like a pot and I'm like, “What is that?” I'm
looking at TV. I’m like, “What is that?” And she says, “Oh,
seven o'clock, we cheer.” And then I started to see it on the
news. And I said, “Oh, I have nothing to do. I'll do it too.”
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Jo Vill, Host))
So, she decided she wanted to be a part of this. She had a
bell and a whistle when she came outside and she started
ringing and clapping with everybody else.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Gail Bryan-Vill, Host))
It's so fulfilling that before we start, it's almost like at 6:30,
my heart starts to beat fast. You know, like I'm going to
perform, you know, and it’s just the excitement of it.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Gail Bryan-Vill, Host))
There was so many people that were, at first, afraid to dance
and then they realized that it didn't matter how you dance.
Because when I see them not moving, I will move with them
or I push them in the middle and say, “Dance!” and they
would dance. And now they’re dancing freely like there is no
inhibition at all. They just dance, whatever comes out, it
comes out. And they’re so happy and they tell me later,
“Thank you. You know, it made me feel so free because I
had nothing.”
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Kahlila Kramer, Yoga Teacher))
That’s my husband and he’s a doctor and he got very sick.
He got exposed at work and he had COVID for three weeks.
I’ve never seen him so sick and it was really scary.
((Anthony Vavasis, Doctor))
It’s because so many people either have permanent injuries
or died and I feel so fortunate that I didn’t. And I got pretty
sick and so we didn’t know what was going to happen.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Gail Bryan-Vill, Host))
To me, one minute you can change your life by thinking
something negative. So, I figure if you can get an hour of
freedom with other people, it’ll take that out of your spirit.
Just take it away.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Jo Vill, Host))
Sometimes my wife, she’ll come out here. She'll see
somebody slap somebody’s hand because they forget.
She’ll come and spray them with alcohol.
((NATS:
We give out masks.))
((Jo Vill, Host))
And we give out masks and water.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Frederique Dessemond, Designer))
This is something that really grew and became this, which is
for me now what should be tomorrow.
((Emmanuel Babou, Gallerist))
I mean, this should be happening in every block right now
because it goes beyond race, sexual orientation, body types,
age.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Gail Bryan-Vill, Host))
We put a positive message at the end of it. So, when they
go, to remember to love yourself, to remember that you're
worthy, to be smart, to be strong and don't give up. We
need human interaction in a positive way to balance all that
negativity out. You need the positivity. And so that's what
we're trying to do, bring positivity into this space that we
have.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((PKG)) FREE PRESS MATTERS
((NATS/VIDEO/GFX))
((Popup captions over B Roll))
Near the Turkish Embassy
Washington, D.C.
May 16, 2017
President Erdogan’s bodyguard attacks peaceful protesters
“Those terrorists deserved to be beaten”
“They should not be protesting our president”
“They got what they asked for”
While some people may turn away from the news
We cover it
reliably
accurately
objectively
comprehensively
wherever the news matters
VOA
A Free Press Matters
CLOSING ((ANIM))
voanews.com/connect
BREAK THREE
((ANIMATION EXPLAINER -- W/ GFX, CAPTIONS,
PHOTOS))
US PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 2020:
BUMP IN ((ANIM))
CLOSING ((ANIM))
voanews.com/connect
SHOW ENDS
EPISODE #146
AIR DATE 10 30 2020
TRANSCRIPT
OPEN ((VO/NAT))
((Banner))
The Cutting Edge
((SOT))
((Zack Jonas, Master Bladesmith, Owner, Jonas Blade
and Metalwork))
Just about every tool in my studio can hurt me or worse,
quickly or slowly.
((Animation Transition))
((Banner))
Inspiring Women in Tech
((SOT))
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor at The University of Toledo))
I just realized that in the 21st century, it is unacceptable that
people die because of the lack of electricity.
((Animation Transition))
((Banner))
Dancing in the Light
((SOT))
((Gail Bryan-Vill, Host))
We put a positive message at the end of it. So, when they
go, to remember to love yourself, to remember that you're
worthy, to be smart, to be strong and don't give up.
((Open Animation))
BLOCK A
((PKG)) KNIFE MAKER
((Banner: Art as Work))
((Reporter/Camera: Gabrielle Weiss))
((Map: Wilmot, New Hampshire))
((Main characters: 1 male))
((NATS))
((Zack Jonas, Master Bladesmith, Owner, Jonas Blade
and Metalwork))
I don’t think there’s any real art without craft and I don’t think
there’s any real craft without art. But I had a debate with an
art professor at the School of Museum of Fine Arts and this
was a nice guy. I really liked him. I liked his class. He was
a drawing teacher. And I was working on a knife during the
course of a semester, and then he wrapped his hand around
the blade, covering the blade and he looked at the handle
and he goes, “This is really beautiful. I love what you’ve
done with the materials and texture, you know, colors and all
of that. If it didn’t have a blade, then it would be art. Then it
would be beautiful.” And I was like, “Come on”. I just rolled
my eyes at him.
((NATS))
((Zack Jonas, Master Bladesmith, Owner, Jonas Blade
and Metalwork))
My name is Zack Jonas and I’m a Master bladesmith
working out of New Hampshire. I make custom knives in all
shapes and sizes, anything from hunting knives to cooking
knives to samurai swords.
I studied philosophy and I enjoyed critical thinking and
debating and all of that. So, after college, I went, I got a job
at a corporate law firm in Boston. And the idea of having to
pay your dues for 15 years before life becomes anything
other than a professional misery, you know. You’re a
paralegal, you’re filing, you’re doing whatever you’re doing,
which was a good test for me to realize that that field was
not going to be my passion. Then I found my way into this
class for bladesmithing and fell in love with it. So, nothing
linear about the path but that’s how I ended up here.
((NATS))
((Zack Jonas, Master Bladesmith, Owner, Jonas Blade
and Metalwork))
This is one of my favorite knives I’ve ever made and this
sword is kind of its spiritual big brother. There’s a lot of
similarity to the shape and the flow of it. And this is a really
complicated piece and I got a lot of the ideas from this.
((NATS))
((Zack Jonas, Master Bladesmith, Owner, Jonas Blade
and Metalwork))
In theory, the title of Master smith means that I have the
skills to do almost literally anything that someone can come
up with or at least to learn how to do it. So, I do a lot of
kitchen knives. I do a lot of hunting knives. Desk knives,
things like that, letter openers. And more elaborate projects,
like swords and daggers and art pieces, you know, pieces
that are built to be functional but have enough time put into
the appearance that they are meant more for a display
purpose.
((NATS/SOT: Zack Jones
There’s yours coming up.))
((Zack Jonas, Master Bladesmith, Owner, Jonas Blade
and Metalwork))
Once I realized that bladesmithing could be a career, I, that
became very appealing to me pretty quickly. But there’s a
lot more that goes into being a professional knifemaker than
just making the knives. I generally work seven days a week.
I’m usually in the studio by seven o’clock in the morning. I
don’t resent that. I love it. I love doing it and when I’m not in
the studio, I’m usually thinking about the studio. But if you
want to make this a business, well, you have to run it as a
business. Well, I could quite happily be in the shop ten
hours a day, seven days a week. And then, there’s also
paying the bills for the studio and communicating with
customers and keeping my order books, you know, tidy, and
shipping and going to shows and applying to shows and all
of those things that it’s just, there’s so much more to it than
just doing the work.
There was a funny moment early on after I built the studio. I
woke up on a Tuesday or something like that and I just didn’t
feel great. And I said to my wife, “I don’t feel great”. And
she said, “Don’t go to work”. And I said, “What do you
mean, don’t go to work? It’s a Tuesday.” And she looked at
me like I was crazy. She goes, “You work for yourself.” And
I went, “Oh yeah, I don’t have to go to work today.”
((NATS))
((Zack Jonas, Master Bladesmith, Owner, Jonas Blade
and Metalwork))
Obviously, that’s dangerous, that’s a slippery slope and you
can just decide not to go in and then nothing gets done.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Zack Jonas, Master Bladesmith, Owner, Jonas Blade
and Metalwork))
One of the things that I love about knives is their connection
to the ancient past and I mean truly ancient past. I mean,
just imagine life today, out in the woods. If you had to go out
in the woods and survive for a week and you couldn’t cut
anything, that would be tricky. So, the amount of power that
mankind gained by adding the cutting edge to his, you know,
arsenal is huge. One of the things that appeals to me so
strongly about bladesmithing is that I’m taking these raw
materials, a bar of steel, a block of wood, maybe a sheet of
metal, and you shape those from, you know, essentially
nothing into these objects that are not only beautiful but also
powerful and useful tools and have a deep connection to
history and culture. So, I really enjoy that aspect of it. But
it’s hard, it’s hard work and it’s pretty dangerous. You know,
just about every tool in my studio can hurt me or worse,
quickly or slowly. But I feel really fortunate to be able to do
what I do and to have my life set up the way that it is. I get
to do what I love. I get to do it as much as I want, pretty
much, which is a real, I mean, it’s a good place to be.
((NATS/MUSIC))
TEASE ((VO/NAT))
Coming up…..
((Banner))
Hi-Tech Tomatoes
((SOT))
These are so important for us because we depend on them
for our quality and our size of our tomatoes.
BREAK ONE
((ANIMATION EXPLAINER -- W/ GFX, CAPTIONS,
PHOTOS))
US PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 2020
BUMP IN ((ANIM))
BLOCK B
((PKG)) HIGH--TECH TOMATOES
((Previously aired April 2019))
((Banner: Hi-Tech Tomatoes))
((Reporter: Crystal Dilworth))
((Adapted by: Martin Secrest))
((VOA Persian))
((Map: Camarillo, California))
((Main character: 1 male))
((MUSIC))
((Popup Banner:
Houweling’s grows tomatoes in a 50 hectare sustainable
greenhouse.
The greenhouse is 24 times more productive than a
conventional field.))
((Casey Houweling, Owner, Houweling’s Inc.))
Obviously there’s glass up there. That’s to let the sun
through. There’s nothing better than the sun. There’s no
artificial light that can replicate the growing capabilities of the
sun and all the other great things that a man-made light bulb
can do. We turn everything from the nutrients, combined
with the sun, into the plant factory which actually is alive and
it moves and it does all kinds of things and that transforms it
into tomatoes. It’s really quite a complex system because
plants have balances. They either want to produce leaves or
they want to produce fruit. You want to encourage the fruit
but not too much, because you need leaves, because these
plants that are in here will last for a year. So, we want the
factory up top to continue to produce the sugars to keep that
plant going but we don’t want to starve it of sugars and say
we’re going to steer it all to the tomatoes. These rows, from
one end to the other, are 125 meters long. But every plant
down here is the same and that’s the key to growing in a
system like this.
((MUSIC))
((Popup Banner:
Water for the greenhouse is collected from rainfall on the
roof.))
((Casey Houweling, Owner, Houweling’s Inc.))
So, every drop of water the plants get, they use and what
they don’t use gets recycled, sterilized and resent out to the
plants. We use high quality fertilizers, which is nutrients, you
know that. I mean, basically what the plant gets is what we
as humans need to survive. Through that whole process, we
use probably about 10 percent of what a field farmer uses to
produce the same amount of product.
I think one of the biggest challenges in the world from a food
perspective is the imbalances of the rich and the poor
countries. Really, this kind of technology and other
technologies, we have the capabilities to feed the world, to
feed double the population of the world easily with utilizing
what it is. But it takes money. It takes planning. It takes
foresight. And you know, do we, as a world population, take
this seriously enough to work together for the common good
and do it in a manner where you can do this
profitably? Because I think often times what gets left out of
this, is the economics behind it. You know, it has to
generate wealth. My heart goes out for the people that can’t
feed their kids, right? I can do a little. You can do a little. I
think that together if we all do a little, then we can start
making some really big differences.
((MUSIC))
((PKG)) GIRL POWER
((Previously aired March 2020))
((Banner: Empowerment))
((Reporter/Camera: Jeff Swicord))
((Editor: Jacquelyn De Phillips))
((Map: Toledo, Ohio))
((Main character: 1 female))
((MUSIC/NATS))
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor, The University of Toledo))
I was born in Kinshasa, the capital city of the Congo and I
grew up in Kikwit which is a small town. So, it has brick
houses, roads and everything except that there was no
running water, no electricity.
((NATS/SOT: Dr. Mubenga
FS 275. 75 watts each.))
((MUSIC/NATS))
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor, The University of Toledo))
When I was 17, I got really sick and when we called the
doctor, she told me, “You have appendicitis. You need to go
under surgery right away.” Unfortunately, there was no
electricity in the general hospital. So, for three days, I was
between life and death.
((NATS/SOT: Dr. Mubenga
I’m going to check this and make sure everything…..this one
is a little bit…..))
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor, The University of Toledo))
After those three days, where I was really in pain and I was
scared, I find my motivation to become an electrical
engineer.
((NATS/SOT: Dr. Mubenga
This is good. If they break, the whole line is broken. There
is this connection here.))
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor, The University of Toledo))
I just realized that in the 21st century, it is unacceptable that
people die because of the lack of electricity.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor, The University of Toledo))
I came to the United States to study electrical engineering at
The University of Toledo. I was very interested in renewable
energy. So, when I was doing my undergrad, I learned to
design and install solar systems and completed my
bachelor's, my master’s and my Ph.D. here.
((NATS/SOT: Dr. Mubenga
So, this week, we are going to continue with introduction to
C and some of…..))
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor, The University of Toledo))
I could see that it was very important not only to find
solutions to problems but to teach others how to find
solutions and how to implement those solutions. So, that's
why I became a professor to pass on the knowledge I've
learned.
((NATS/SOT: Dr. Mubenga
This is a way to get the answer.))
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor, The University of Toledo))
Typically I have zero women. We are lucky to have three
women in class.
((NATS/SOT: Dr. Mubenga
You got it? Okay, good.))
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor, The University of Toledo))
Why do we have few women in the STEM field? Science,
technology, engineering and math.
((NATS/SOT: Dr. Mubenga
Oh, Connor. Jennifer?))
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor, The University of Toledo))
It's very easy when you go in a store, you see all the toys for
women and girls are dolls and things like that and for the
boys you would have tools. So unfortunately, society is
pretty much sending a message that science, technology,
engineering and math is for men.
((NATS/SOT: Dr. Mubenga
And then you have the LED here.))
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor, The University of Toledo))
Right now, there's a lot of work that's being done to say, “No,
you are a woman. You can do STEM.” That message
needs to be sent early.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Courtesy: Dr. Sandrine Mubenga))
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor, The University of Toledo))
After I got my professional engineer license, I started SMIN
Power Group because that was my dream. In 2013, then we
opened the office in Kinshasa. We installed solar systems
and designed solar systems for communities in the Congo. I
always wanted to lead a company that would provide energy
solutions in places like Kikwit. It's not as much the money
but it's the social impact coming from my experience, you
know, almost dying because of the lack of electricity. It was
a huge effort to educate the customer. And we were
pleased to see that after this effort, that more people are
interested in solar in the Congo. So, it's been a positive
experience.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Popup Banner: Toledo’s Science Center, Imagination
Station, hosted a Girl Power! Event.))
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor, The University of Toledo))
The University News Network wrote an article. It was called,
Women Killing It In Sustainability and they listed me. And
Imagination Station read the interview. So, they contacted
me. They said, “We are doing the Girl Power! event to
introduce girls from Toledo to the STEM field. Would you
like to be part of it?” So, that’s how I was invited to be the
keynote this year.
((NATS/SOT: Girl Power! Host
Please help me give a big round of applause to our amazing
speaker, Dr. Sandrine Mubenga.))
((NATS/SOT: Dr. Mubenga
Thank you very much for this introduction.))
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor, The University of Toledo))
I believe they had about 200 girls attending. It’s always
energizing to be around young people full of hope, you
know. I just love that positive energy.
((NATS/SOT: Dr. Mubenga
So that together we can find solutions to our problems.))
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor, The University of Toledo))
I was surprised by the level of maturity of some of those
girls. I remember one of them asked me if it was difficult to
be a mother and to pursue a career in STEM. She must
have been 10. And I realized that often times that is a
reason that would slow women to go into the STEM field.
So, I explained to the girl that I basically had my children as I
was building my career. If you have a good support system,
if you are well organized, you can pursue your dream, have
your kids, have your company.
((NATS))
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor, The University of Toledo))
I think the best way to encourage more women and young
girls is be there.
((NATS/SOT: Dr. Mubenga
You are a natural. Wow!))
((NATS/SOT: Instructor
Yeah, she’s getting it.))
((NATS/SOT: Dr. Mubenga
She’s good.))
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor, The University of Toledo))
First, show them that it is possible to be done.
((NATS/SOT: Instructor
Great!))
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor, The University of Toledo))
I think it's possible that one day, half of my class will be
women.
((NATS/SOT: Instructor
Put your code right there.))
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor, The University of Toledo))
If we focus more into introducing STEM early on, in the
school program.
((NATS))
((NATS/SOT: Little girl
Thank you.))
((NATS/SOT: Instructor
You’re welcome.))
((Dr. Sandrine Mubenga, Ph.D., PE, Electrical Engineer,
Professor, The University of Toledo))
So, this is what we would like to see.
((NATS))
TEASE ((VO/NAT))
Coming up…..
((Banner))
Positive Vibes
((SOT))
((Gail Bryan-Vill, Host))
We need human interaction in a positive way to balance all
that negativity out. You need the positivity. And so that's
what we're trying to do, bring positivity into this space that
we have.
BREAK TWO
((ANIMATION EXPLAINER -- W/ GFX, CAPTIONS,
PHOTOS))
US PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 2020
BUMP IN ((ANIM))
BLOCK C
((PKG)) BUILDING DESKS
((Banner: Desks During the Pandemic))
((Reporter: Faiza Elmasry))
((Camera: Mike Burke))
((Map: Chantilly, Virginia))
((Main character: 1 male))
((Sub characters: 2 female))
((NATS))
((Colby Samide, Founder, Desks for Distance))
My name is Colby Samide. I'm 17 years old and I'm a junior
at Woodgrove High School. Right now, we're at Moss
Building and Design in Chantilly. They've offered me space
for a build day.
((NATS))
((Colby Samide, Founder, Desks for Distance))
We're building 50 desks. 30 of them are going to schools
and 20 are going to kids in need who reached out to me
personally.
((Courtesy: Desks by Dads - Jess Al Berrellez))
I came across a group called Desks by Dads in Maryland.
It’s a group of parents who are creating desks for children in
need and giving them through the school system. I saw the
idea and I've wanted to give back for a while and now after
moving here, because I love this community and I figured
this was a great way to do it, to use my skills.
((NATS))
((Colby Samide, Founder, Desks for Distance))
It's super fun working with wood and seeing what I can
create and I really enjoy it.
((Courtesy: Colby Samide))
When I first put out my Facebook page saying what I was
going to do, it was, it kind of went semi viral in the
community overnight.
((Courtesy: Colby Samide))
Everyone just kept re-sharing it. So, donations were
plentiful. People have been really generous with it. So,
thankfully, donations have covered everything. So, that's
awesome. I'm just really glad the community has been able
to fund this project.
((NATS))
((Jennifer Zschunke, Manager, Community Relations,
Moss Building & Design))
I think that Colby is doing a wonderful thing.
((Courtesy: Desks for Distance))
We noticed that there was a new organization that popped
up on Facebook.
((NATS))
((Voice of Colby Samide, Founder, Desks for Distance))
Hey everybody, this is Colby Samide from Desks for
Distance and today I'm going to be showing you how to build
this simple yet good looking desk.
((NATS))
((Jennifer Zschunke, Manager, Community Relations,
Moss Building & Design))
We realized very quickly that this was something that we
could get involved in because he had received so many
orders for desks that he couldn't fulfill them quickly enough.
Desks are hard to get these days. Once most of the schools
in the area turned to virtual learning, we kind of pounced
upon this idea to do a Build-a-Palooza as we call it for today.
We have a wonderful relationship with Lowe's Home
Improvement. They provided all the materials. We provided
a lot of the labor to put the desks together are most MOSS
employees and we're asking for volunteers all day long to
help sand and finish the desks.
((NATS))
((Jennifer Zschunke, Manager, Community Relations,
Moss Building & Design))
And we also had our lunch catered by Sultry Soul Foods.
((NATS:
Start here, then go here.))
((NATS))
((Jennifer Zschunke, Manager, Community Relations,
Moss Building & Design))
We reached out to My Guys Moving and Storage and they're
helping to deliver the desks to those who have reached out
to ask Colby for the desks.
((NATS:
Slide in, perfect.))
((NATS))
((Colby Samide, Founder, Desks for Distance))
Delivering the desk is the best part.
((Courtesy: Colby Samide))
I try to deliver them whenever I can which just makes me
feel really good when I see the face of the parents or the
kids when they see the desk.
((Dylan Samide, Colby’s Mother))
((Courtesy: Colby Samide))
Ever since I can remember, little toddler loved to build things
and sort of tinker around with how things would work or fit
together.
((NATS))
((Dylan Samide, Colby’s Mother))
He has built me several things. He was sweet. He surprised
me for my birthday with a daybed, bought the materials and
made it in the garage. I think he's learned so much just
when he started doing this, I guess, three-and-a-half weeks
ago…..
((NATS: Colby Samide
So now, we have to position the frame on top of the board.))
((Dylan Samide, Colby’s Mother))
((Courtesy: Colby Samide))
…..which is the initial wanting to really, you know, give back
and help a few families if he could.
((NATS))
((Colby Samide, Founder, Desks for Distance))
((Courtesy: Colby Samide))
That's what my main goal is right now, to try to get the
message out and have people recreate this idea in their
communities.
((NATS))
((PKG)) NYC BLOCK PARTIES
((Banner: Dance it Out!))
((Reporter: Anna Nelson))
((Camera: Natalia Latukhina, Vladimir Badikov))
((Adapted by: Zdenko Novacki))
((Map: New York, New York))
((Main characters: 1 female))
((Sub characters: 2 female; 3 male))
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Popup Banner:
What started as a salute to pandemic frontline workers, has
evolved in this New York neighborhood ))
((Gail Bryan-Vill, Host))
I heard banging like a pot and I'm like, “What is that?” I'm
looking at TV. I’m like, “What is that?” And she says, “Oh,
seven o'clock, we cheer.” And then I started to see it on the
news. And I said, “Oh, I have nothing to do. I'll do it too.”
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Jo Vill, Host))
So, she decided she wanted to be a part of this. She had a
bell and a whistle when she came outside and she started
ringing and clapping with everybody else.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Gail Bryan-Vill, Host))
It's so fulfilling that before we start, it's almost like at 6:30,
my heart starts to beat fast. You know, like I'm going to
perform, you know, and it’s just the excitement of it.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Gail Bryan-Vill, Host))
There was so many people that were, at first, afraid to dance
and then they realized that it didn't matter how you dance.
Because when I see them not moving, I will move with them
or I push them in the middle and say, “Dance!” and they
would dance. And now they’re dancing freely like there is no
inhibition at all. They just dance, whatever comes out, it
comes out. And they’re so happy and they tell me later,
“Thank you. You know, it made me feel so free because I
had nothing.”
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Kahlila Kramer, Yoga Teacher))
That’s my husband and he’s a doctor and he got very sick.
He got exposed at work and he had COVID for three weeks.
I’ve never seen him so sick and it was really scary.
((Anthony Vavasis, Doctor))
It’s because so many people either have permanent injuries
or died and I feel so fortunate that I didn’t. And I got pretty
sick and so we didn’t know what was going to happen.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Gail Bryan-Vill, Host))
To me, one minute you can change your life by thinking
something negative. So, I figure if you can get an hour of
freedom with other people, it’ll take that out of your spirit.
Just take it away.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Jo Vill, Host))
Sometimes my wife, she’ll come out here. She'll see
somebody slap somebody’s hand because they forget.
She’ll come and spray them with alcohol.
((NATS:
We give out masks.))
((Jo Vill, Host))
And we give out masks and water.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Frederique Dessemond, Designer))
This is something that really grew and became this, which is
for me now what should be tomorrow.
((Emmanuel Babou, Gallerist))
I mean, this should be happening in every block right now
because it goes beyond race, sexual orientation, body types,
age.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((Gail Bryan-Vill, Host))
We put a positive message at the end of it. So, when they
go, to remember to love yourself, to remember that you're
worthy, to be smart, to be strong and don't give up. We
need human interaction in a positive way to balance all that
negativity out. You need the positivity. And so that's what
we're trying to do, bring positivity into this space that we
have.
((NATS/MUSIC))
((PKG)) FREE PRESS MATTERS
((NATS/VIDEO/GFX))
((Popup captions over B Roll))
Near the Turkish Embassy
Washington, D.C.
May 16, 2017
President Erdogan’s bodyguard attacks peaceful protesters
“Those terrorists deserved to be beaten”
“They should not be protesting our president”
“They got what they asked for”
While some people may turn away from the news
We cover it
reliably
accurately
objectively
comprehensively
wherever the news matters
VOA
A Free Press Matters
CLOSING ((ANIM))
voanews.com/connect
BREAK THREE
((ANIMATION EXPLAINER -- W/ GFX, CAPTIONS,
PHOTOS))
US PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 2020:
BUMP IN ((ANIM))
CLOSING ((ANIM))
voanews.com/connect
SHOW ENDS
