Open Book is a new show premiering on Monday: each episode focuses on a single neighborhood or community to introduce you to the musicians, actors, poets and other storytellers whose work reminds us we're all connected. This premiere episode takes place in Ft. Greene, Brooklyn, a neighborhood with a rich cultural heritage.

Guests include former child soldier Ishmael Beah, award-winning novelist Jennifer Egan, legendary jazz musician Bill Lee, Walt Whitman-devotee Daryl Blaine Ford, creative genius Carl Hancock Rux, Def Jam poet Suheir Hammad, singer Nucomme, and star of stage and screen, and actor Jeffrey Wright.

I had the good fortune of being in a small, 20-person interview/seminar with Carl Hancock Rux back in 2004. He talked about his experiences as an artist, and read excerpts from his book, Asphalt. It was pretty incredible. I'm really excited to see this show, if only to see Rux speak again!

Learn More about Open Book here

From natknits on YouTube:

"When I heard the song for the first time I was actually watching the video. I was so deeply moved by it. I remember I was on the couch feeling horrible from a cold and when this came on I forgot I was even sick. It made cry because of the strong message but it also made me want to get up and dance. As a way to help spread the message, I choreographed this for my Zumba class."

Here's the video!

We're so excited about this!

In case you missed the original Amnesty International/Link TV co-production here it is:

Accountability for torture has been a tense and active topic ever since Barack Obama was sworn into office. Will the new administration hold the perpetrators of torture - including those at the top who authorized water-boarding and other interrogation techniques - accountable for their actions?

We're excited to bring you a Link TV original production, Torture on Trial, that investigates the history of interrogations in the "War on Terrorism", and the growing movement calling for accountability for those who authorized and participated in torture.

Watch online!

This week on Global Pulse, the focus is on torture, politics and accountability. Obama declassifies Bush administration documents that detail and attempt to legalize what some have called "torture techniques." While the U.S media seem focused on the political ramifications, media worldwide present the brutality of torture and point the finger of blame directly at Bush.

SOURCES: FOX, CBS, ABC, CNN, The Daily Show, U.S; TV5, France; Press TV, Iran; TVN, Chile; Al Jazeera English, Qatar