A little over a year ago, composer and songwriter Joseph (Joe) Curiale had a residence in Hollywood with a flashy car parked in front. Now he is technically homeless. A homeless jet-setter, he jokes.
Early in 2006, Curiale saw a TV report by CNN international correspondent Satinder Bindra concerning the near quarter of a million farmers in India who have been driven to suicide by a vicious cycle of ongoing drought and rising debt. According to conservative government figures, one farmer is killing himself every five hours out of utter hopelessness.
"It shocked me to my core," recalls Curiale, currently based with friends in Yokohama. "I'd been blinded by information technology's smoke screen of progress. The reality is that only a small percentage of the Indian population is reaping the benefits of the IT boom."