debootstrap

#!/bin/sh
sudo debootstrap --arch=mips --foreign \
--include aptitude,vim,openssh-server,gcc-4.3,python \
lenny /opt/nfsroot/mips http://www.emdebian.org/grip


(On target)
cd debootstrap
./debootstrap --second-stage


(very good step-by-step)
http://nabeko-notebook.blogspot.com/2010/04/emdebian-on-arm-by-debootstrap.html

(locales)
http://www.wayhorn.com/node/8