gaza under siege

As we watch the oil from BP's well filling the Gulf of Mexico, it is easy to turn to talk of alternative fuels and their relative safety. Bolivia has more than half the planet's known lithium reserves, giving it a leg up on the alternative fuel market. But the Democracy Center's recent report, "Bolivia and its Lithium: Can the 'Gold of the 21st Century' Lift a Nation out of Poverty?" highlights some of the problems with lithium as an alternative. Jim Shultz of the Democracy Center stopped by our studio to give us this commentary. This week saw an attack on the Freedom Flotilla attempting to bring aid to Gaza, bringing the ongoing humanitarian crisis there to the attention of even the mainstream media. This week on GRITtv we look at a documentary that takes you on a journey inside a Gaza under siege but still struggling to live. Directed by by Nicolas Wadimoff, in collaboration with Beatrice Guelpa, "Aisheen: Still Alive in Gaza" shows you what the activists on the ships were fighting for. Frequent GRITtv guest Jeff Biggers has created the Coal Free Future Project, along with Stephanie Pistello, as a creative and artistic component to the growing climate justice movement, pushing for clean energy and human rights. As part of their project, they are presenting their multimedia theater project "4 1/2 Hours: Across the Stones of Fire" at New York's Gene Frankel Theatre from June 4th to the 13th. We spoke to Jeff and Stephanie about their project, their goals, and visited a rehearsal for the show. In addition to New York show dates, they plan to take the project on tour around the U.S., so look out for them near you soon.