Worldview Podcast

Items left at U.S.-Mexican border reveal hidden history of migration

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:36:00 -0600

Millions have crossed the dangerous, high-security border between Mexico and the U.S. But we rarely hear about the actual, visceral experience of crossing. What do migrants bring? What do they eat and drink? How do they survive in the middle of the desert?This curiosity is what led Jason De Leon to the border. Jason’s a professor at the University of Michigan and a trained archeologist. He collects the items migrants leave behind while crossing the border into the U.S.His collection is now the largest body of migrant artifacts in the country, including everything from shoes to backpacks, water bottles, prayer books, love letters – you name it. Jason joins Worldview to discuss the unusual project.

Libya post-Qaddafi

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:19:00 -0600

It’s been five months since Libya’s long-time dictator Muammar Qaddafi was killed. His death marked an end to nearly 42 years of dictatorship. It also opened a political vacuum that Libya’s interim government has tried to fill, at least temporarily. But since coming to power, the Transitional National Council has faced a series of crises. It’s struggled to assert its authority in some areas. Rival militias are still armed. And it's had a hard time doing basic things like paying public salaries.Originally from Libya, Ali Ahmida is chair of the political science department at the University of New England. He’s the author of several books including Forgotten Voices: Power and Agency in Colonial and Postcolonial Libya. Ali tells Worldview how post-Qaddafi Libya is doing.

Worldview 2.3.12

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:37:00 -0600

It’s been five months since Qaddafi was killed, but Libya’s interim government still finds itself facing a series of crises. The Transitional National Council has struggled to assert authority in some areas where fighting continues; it’s also had a hard time doing things like paying public salaries. Worldview talks with political scientist Ali Ahmida about where the country stands, post-Qaddafi. Also, though millions have crossed the high-security border between Mexico and the U.S., we hear little about the actual experience of that crossing. That’s why Jason De Leon, a professor at the University of Michigan, spends his free time at the border along Arizona’s Sonoran desert. An archaeologist, Jason is collecting the largest body of migrant artifacts in the country -- from shoes to backpacks, water bottles, and love letters left behind -- to illustrate what migrants go through to reach the U.S. He joins Worldview to discuss the project. Lastly, film contributor Milos Stehlik and Nari Safavi review Iranian director Asghar Farhadi's A Separation. The film is nominated for an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film.

Spacetoon Kids TV addresses challenges teens face from conflict in Iraq

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:45:00 -0600

Fifty percent of Iraq’s population is under 19 years old. The younger generation is in a distinct position, having lived under the shadow of sanctions and wars for two full decades. Today, Worldview talks to a man who's focusing on helping to heal Iraq's youth.Hussam Hadi is regional director of the Arabic cartoon channel Spacetoon Kids TV. Operating in the Middle East and North Africa, the channel reaches 22 countries and 50 million viewers. Spacetoon Kids TV is unique in that it directly addresses the challenges facing children in Iraq, tackling subjects such as education, landmines, rights, healthcare and hygiene.Hussam joins Worldview to share his story of empowering Iraqi teenagers. Hussam is being honored tonight as the 2011 Patricia Blunt Koldyke Fellow on Social Entrepreneurship, a distinction awarded by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. The event will take place at The Chicago Club at 5:30PM. Watch this video of a reality show on Hussam's channel, producing for and by Iraqi youth:

Suicides in China-controlled Tibet continue to rise

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:55:00 -0600

In recent months, a number of Tibetans have set themselves on fire in public to protest Chinese rule. Photos and videos circulated online show a startling scene: onlookers cheer as another life is sacrificed in a show of resistance against China.Though the self-immolations aren’t new, they are rising steadily and spreading to more areas. Meanwhile, China is scrambling to tighten its grip on the parts of Tibet where these self immolations have occurred.Worldview talks to Tenzin Jamyang, a local Tibetan, to help make sense of the unraveling situation. Note: In this interview, our guest incorrectly states the meeting time of an upcoming protest. The Tibetan Alliance plans to gather at 11AM, not 8AM, on February 8 at the Water Tower in Chicago.

In Syrian crackdown, doctors who treat protesters become targets themselves

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:17:00 -0600

In Syria, a surprising constituency has gotten caught up in the conflict between the government and dissidents: ordinary doctors. As President Assad’s regime becomes more militarized and protesters take up arms, doctors are resorting to underground clinics to treat those hurt in the violence.But the struggle to provide care is wrought with complications. With independent medical organizations like Doctors Without Borders barred from the country, individual doctors must deal with scores of patients on their own. Many underground clinics have only basic medical supplies. And because blood supplies are monitored by the government, many of those injured in the protests are bleeding to death without access to basic transfusions.In the process of treating others, Syria's doctors have become government targets themselves. Many have been detained, harassed, deported and – according to some reports – killed. Worldview talks with Dr. Zahrer Sahloul, president of the Syrian American Medical Society. He’s trying to mobilize Syrian American doctors to help medical professionals in their home country.

Worldview 2.2.12

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:58:00 -0600

As Syria's uprising grows more violent, doctors have resorted to treating those hurt in underground clinics. As a result, many have been detained, harassed, deported, and even killed. Worldview talks to Dr. Zahrer Sahloul, president of the Syrian American Medical Society, about the situation. Also, Worldview sits down with Hussam Hadi, who directs an Arabic cartoon channel called Spacetoon Kids TV. It's been celebrated for engaging Iraqi kids who've grown up in war, exploring topics from education to healthcare to hygiene. And in recent months, a number of Tibetans have set themselves on fire to protest Chinese rule. Though these self-immolations aren't new, they're rising and spreading to more areas. We talk to local Tibetan Tanzim Jamyang about why a growing number of Tibetans have turned to self-immolation.

Nigerian refugee fights for a life and his marriage in the U.S.

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:34:00 -0600

Eugene Peba is an immigrant here in Chicago. A member of Nigeria's Ogoni tribe, he fled persecution in his home country for the U.S. seven years ago. Now, Eugene works in Chicago and is married to an American -- and he's also facing a protracted legal battle to stay in this country on asylum grounds. His story reveals the byzantine, high-stakes world that many foreigners who come to this country face.Students from Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism recently met Eugene as part of their reporting work for the website Immigrant Connect. Led by their professor, Jack Doppelt, they reported Eugene's story.Eugene, Jack and Northwestern student Karen Chen join Worldview to explain why Eugene is fighting to stay in the United States. To read the original article on Eugene Peba, written by Northwestern students on Immigrant Connect, click here. Watch this video of Eugene's story:

A behavioral economist on what works, and what falls flat, in global poverty relief

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:40:00 -0600

When it comes to global poverty, there’s often a gap between the billions we pour in and the outcomes that actually result. A behavioral economist at Yale University, Dean Karlan is trying to uncover the reasons behind this gap.Dean is co-author of a new book called More than Good Intentions: How a New Economics if Helping to Solve Global Poverty. It's a Freakanomics-style guide to development projects that work and projects that just don’t make the cut.Dean tells Worldview what the world needs to do to make sure every dollar that's donated makes a difference in reducing global poverty. Dean Karlan is speaking this evening at the Buffet Center at Northwestern University, at 5PM. Read more about the event here.

Worldview 1.31.12

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:41:00 -0600

Eugene Peba is a member of the Ogoni Tribe, an indigenous group in southeast Nigeria that's been persecuted for decades. Eugene fled his home country for the U.S., but now faces deportation. He tells Worldview why he may have to leave the United States. Also, when it comes to foreign aid, there's often a gap between the billions poured in to help people in need and the outcomes that result. Dean Karlan, a behavioral economist who teaches at Yale University, is trying to figure out what's behind this gap. Dean is the co-author of More than Good Intentions: How a New Economics is Helping to Solve Global Poverty. Worldview talks to Dean about his book, a Freakanomics-style guide which talks about development initiatives that work and don't work.

Remembering Ireland's Bloody Sunday, 40 years later

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:35:00 -0600

Today is the 40th anniversary of the Bloody Sunday massacre, when British soldiers shot 26 unarmed civil-rights protesters and bystanders. More than half of those shot died.At age 15, Don Mullan witnessed the event. His book, Eyewitness Bloody Sunday, was one of the catalysts that pushed then Prime Minister Tony Blair to establish a second, more critical, inquiry into Bloody Sunday in 1998. The inquiry lasted until 2010 and prompted a historic apology from British Prime Minister David Cameron. He described the events of Bloody Sunday as “unjustified and unjustifiable.”Don tells Worldview about what he witnessed first-hand in Ireland, 40 years ago. Don Mullan is giving a public talk at DePaul University's School of Public Service on February 7 at 12PM. The talk will take place at 14 East Jackson Avenue, on the 16th floor.

The history behind a vote for Scottish independence

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:29:00 -0600

The Scottish government recently announced plans to hold a referendum on independence from Great Britain. Though Scotland has partial self-government, it's been a part of the United Kingdom since 1707. Today, Worldview tries to unravel the emotional and practical implications of Scottish independence with local Scot Euan Hague. Euan is chair of the geography department at DePaul University. To read an article by Euan Hague on the culture of the Scottish-American community, click here.

Worldview 1.30.12

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:35:00 -0600

Scotland recently announced plans to hold a referendum on independence from Britain. Alex Salmond, Scotland’s first minister, says this would be the country's “most important decision for 300 years.” Local Scot Euan Hague walks us through the history of Scottish-English relations and tells us why he favors an independent Scotland. Also, today marks 40 years since Ireland's Bloody Sunday massacre, where British soldiers shot 26 unarmed civil-rights protesters and bystanders. At age 15, Don Mullan witnessed the events. In 1998, his book, Eyewitness Bloody Sunday, helped push Prime Minister Tony Blair to establish an inquiry into "Bloody Sunday." Worldview talks to Don about that day and the current state of peace in Northern Ireland.

Worldview 1.27.12

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 21:20:00 -0600

The motion picture The Help just landed four Oscar nominations, including Best Picture and Best Actress. As part of Worldview’s occasional series “Images, Movies and Race,” WBEZ’s Richard Steele talks to sociology professor Enobong Branch about the legacy of labor among black women in the United States. She also shares her views on the film. Enobong is the author of Opportunity Denied: Limiting Black Women to Devalued Work. And, Worldview considers the films and actors that were just nominated for the 2012 Oscars. Film contributor Milos Stehlik explains why, in his view, the only film this year to merit a Best Picture nomination was Terrence Malick's Tree of Life.

Milos Stehlik talks about the 2012 Oscars nominations

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:00:00 -0600

Worldview delves into the films and actors just nominated for the 2012 Academy Awards. Jerome McDonnell sits down with Worldview Film contributor, Milos Stehlik of Facets Multi-media. Milos talks about the highs, lows and snubs of the Oscars nominations and explains why, in his view, the only film to merit even a Best Film nomination, is Terrence Malick's The Tree of Life.

Haiti two years after the earthquake

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:58:00 -0600

Two years ago this month, Haiti was hit by an earthquake that the United Nations called “the largest urban disaster in modern history.”Since then, the U.N. estimates that more than two billion dollars in aid has gone into the country. But despite the money, efforts to rebuild have been painfully slow.Haitian economist Ludovic Comeau helps Worldview take stock of the complicated process of rebuilding Haiti. Ludovic is a professor of economics at DePaul University and the president of GRAHN-USA, a think tank dedicated to rebuilding the Caribbean nation.

Worldview 1.26.12

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:26:00 -0600

It’s been two years since a devastating earthquake struck Haiti, killing at least 300,000 and displacing 1.5 million. Progress to rebuild has been slow. Haitian economist Ludovic Comeau helps us take stock of the reconstruction and rebuilding efforts of the past two years. And on Global Activism, Haitian-American Dr. Mildred Olivier tells us about the work she's been doing to provide eye care for patients in Haiti. Currently, there are only 45 trained ophthalmologists in the entire country. A member of the American Academy of Opthalmology’s Haiti task force, Dr. Olivier hopes that one day she’ll be able to build an eye care center in all nine departments of Haiti. She tells Worldview how she plans to do it

One year later, Wael Ghonim, the Google executive who stoked revolution in Egypt, tells his story

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:36:00 -0600

In an interview with Worldview’s Jerome McDonnell, Ghonim lifted the veil behind Egypt’s historic year of change. He said that the revolution would have happened without his actions, and also defended the slow pace of progress on the country’s new path toward democracy.Last year, Egyptians began filing into Tahrir (or liberation), Square, first by the thousands— and then by the hundreds of thousands.Ghonim’s activism — both online and on the streets — was critical in stoking the fire that toppled President Hosni Mubarek.Ghonim: The revolution had to be leaderlessGhonim discussed the anarchic nature of the protests, which he helped organize anonymously through a Facebook page. Named for an Egyptian beaten to death by local police in broad daylight, the “We Are All Khaled Said” page became the driving force behind the protests. “I was very surprised to see a lot of people going to the street – thousands doing it – without knowing who’s behind the invitation,” he says. “People believed in the cause and did not really care about the person [organizing].” He insists the revolution would not have unfolded to the same extent any other way.Ghonim defends slow progress on democracy-frontGhonim also defends the pace of progress in Egypt, where Islamists now hold a majority of seats in Parliament. “People revolted so that Egyptians can be empowered to make their own choices about whom they want to be representing them,” he says, reminding listeners that ‘“Egypt is recovering from about 30 years of corruption and more than 60 years of military rulers.”The 31-year-old also revisits the uprising itself, in which an increasingly emboldened citizenry used social media to amplify the impact of street protests. He says what happened in Egypt reflects a new world order. “In the past, the people in power used to make all the decisions,” he said. “We’re seeing all of these movements around the world trying to do the same activities. World leaders need to start realizing that there need to be more grassroots activities, more bottom-up rather than top-down approaches in dealing with the people’s problems.”Ahmed Rehab, the Egyptian American director of Chicago’s Council on Islamic Relations, also takes part in this conversation. Wael’s new book is Revolution 2.0: The Power of the People is Greater than the People in Power.

State of the Union: What's next for Obama's foreign policy?

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:27:00 -0600

Global issues usually don’t dominate a State of the Union address. But they seemed to get a little more play than usual in President Obama's speech last night. In the speech, President Obama covered everything from energy independence to the people's revolt in Syria, Iran's isolation, and America's strategic military pivot towards the Pacific. Worldview dissects the foreign policy aspects of the State of the Union address with Uri Friedman, an associate editor at Foreign Policy.

Worldview 1.25.12

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:37:00 -0600

Worldview delves into the foreign policy dimensions of President Obama’s State of the Union address with Uri Friedman. He's associate editor at Foreign Policy. Also, Wael Ghonim has been called the “Facebook freedom fighter” and “the man behind the revolution.” To mark the one-year anniversary of Egypt’s uprising, Worldview talks to Wael. The activist and former Google executive is credited with jump-starting the fall of Hosni Mubarak, Egypt’s 30-year dictator, and creating momentum that spread across the Arab world. His new memoir is Revolution 2.0: The Power of the People is Greater than the People in Power. Ahmed Rehab, executive director of Chicago’s Council on American-Islamic Relations, will also join the conversation.

Worldview 1.24.12

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:22:00 -0600

In his new book, Tribal Peoples, Stephen Corry challenges popular assumptions about the world's indigenous. The director of Survival International, Stephen has spent the past 40 years promoting and popularizing tribal people's rights. Today, he tells Worldview about his rich experiences with these populations and how their disappearance is far from inevitable. He also explains his belief that, counter to conventional wisdom, tribal people live much fuller lives than most in the modernized world.

Worldview 1.23.12

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:58:00 -0600

Today, Worldview presents a special called Latitudes. Toilets are a basic necessity, though some 2.6 billion people don’t have them and more than a million die from sanitation related diseases every year. Latitudes explores efforts to improve access to clean water and clean toilets around the globe. Latitudes also looks back at the 10-year anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan and visits a Colombian gold mining community.

Surgeons in short supply in Uganda

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 18:59:00 -0600

Uganda desperately needs surgeons. In a country of 32 million people, there are only about a hundred specialist surgeons. As a result, accident victims with critical injuries must sometimes wait weeks or months for operations. One reason for the shortage: Ugandan medical students increasingly choose to work in the better paying field of HIV and AIDS care. Bonnie Allen reports. The piece originally aired on the World Vision Report. We got it from the Public Radio Exchange.

E.U. ban limits U.S. access to death penalty drugs

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 18:11:00 -0600

Though the European Union is staunchly against the death penalty, it's been in the business of selling death penalty technology to the U.S. for the past two years. But that all changed a few weeks ago, when the E.U. signed legislation making it illegal to export certain death penalty drugs -- like sodium thiopental and pentobarbital -- to America.The U.S. ranks among the highest worldwide in its rates of execution, along with North Korea, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and China. And with the U.S. already suffering from a shortage in lethal injection drugs, the E.U. just made it a lot more complicated to execute in America.Sandra Babcock is the clinical director at the Center for International Human Rights at Northwestern Law School and runs a website called Death Penalty Worldwide. Sandra also helped push for the E.U.’s recent legislation. She joins us to explain how the ban might impact those sentenced to death in the United States.

Worldview 1.20.12

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:41:00 -0600

Turkey is threatening to cut off relations with the European Union if Cyprus takes over the rotating E.U. presidency, as planned later this year. The U.N. will bring together both Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders this weekend to move negotiations forward. Chicagoan Endy Zemenides, executive director of the Hellenic American Leadership Council, tells Worldview what’s at stake. Also, the European Union just sanctioned the U.S. on the death penalty, passing legislation that limits our access to the drugs we use for executions. Worldview delves into this issue with Sandra Babcock, clinical director at the Center for International Human Rights at Northwestern Law School. She helped push for the E.U.’s recent legislation. And, film contributor Milos Stehlik reviews Wages of Fear, a film by master post-war French filmmaker Henri-Georges Clouzot.

President Obama rejects Keystone XL pipeline project

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:08:00 -0600

Yesterday, President Obama said "no for now" to the controversial Keystone XL pipeline. The project, to be executed by the company TransCanada, would have carried heavy crude oil from the tar sands of Alberta, Canada all the way south to refineries on the Texas coast.The pipeline provoked a robust debate across the United States, prompting environmentalists, farmers, and members of the oil industry and Congress to stake out impassioned positions for or against its creation. The issue also seemed to re-energize America's environmental movement. In November, 12,000 people encircled the White House to protest the pipeline, making it the largest protest to ever take place outside the president's residence.Last summer, Worldview explored the cultural, psychological and social tolls of the proposed pipeline with University of Alberta professor and philosopher David Goa. He's director of the Chester Ronning Centre for the Study of Religion and Public Life.For David, Keystone XL had opened up a revealing dialogue about the kind of world Americans really want. Today, David returns to discuss the human issues surrounding the pipeline project.

Worldview 1.19.12

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 15:37:00 -0600

Yesterday, President Obama rejected the controversial Keystone XL pipeline, making good on a promise to not give in to Republican ultimatums. The project was supposed to carry heavy crude oil from the tar sands of Alberta, Canada to refineries on the Texas coast. Worldview speaks to University of Alberta professor and philosopher Davis Goa about the cultural, psychological and social tolls of the project. And, on Global Activism, Beth Skorochod of Population Services International (PSI) discusses her HIV prevention work with men who have sex with men in Togo. Sodomy is illegal in the West African country.

Why are so few Japanese seeking relationships and sexual partners?

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:35:00 -0600

Japan has one of the lowest birth rates in the world. Thus, every five years, the Japanese government conducts a study on attitudes toward sex and marriage.Recent findings suggest that the birth rate will probably continue to plummet. The reason? Compared to societies around the world, the Japanese aren’t having sex -- as much as a quarter of all unmarried men and women have never even had sex. What's more, many Japanese say they do not want a partner. According to one report 90 percent of young Japanese women said they preferred to stay single. Daniel Aldrich is a professor of political science at Purdue University who focuses on Japan. He tells Worldview what the government survey reveals about society, and sexuality, in Japan.

Survey reveals many Japanese are skipping sex

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:29:00 -0600

In Japan, not much is happening between the sheets in many marriages. And it’s not necessarily that different for single people, either.According to a recent government survey on attitudes toward sex and marriage, one in four unmarried Japanese men has never ever had sex. Twenty five percent of women between 35 and 39 have also never had sex.Chie Ohlsson is originally from Kobe, Japan but moved to the U.S. in 1999. She's married to an American but makes frequent trips back to Japan for her marketing job. Chie tells Worldview why the government's findings don't really surprise her.

Worldview 1.18.12

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:46:00 -0600

Japan's birth rate is extremely low, so every five years the government conducts a survey on attitudes toward sex and marriage. And the latest statistics suggest that it's unlikely the birth rate will go up. It turns out that lots of Japanese aren’t even having sex. One out of four unmarried Japanese men, and more than a quarter of unmarried Japanese women between 35 and 39, have never had sex. A record 61 percent of men between 18 and 35 have no girlfriend and say they’re even not looking for one. We try to figure out what’s behind this lack of lust with Chie Ohlsson, about her experience- she says she ended up marrying an American. And, political scientist Daniel Aldrich tells us how changes in traditional women's roles have impacted relations between men and women in Japan. And on Global Notes, local musician Blagoj Lamnjov stops to show off the zurla, a Macedonian wind instrument akin to the oboe but a whole lot louder.

Ukrainian Greek Catholic leader, Sviatoslav Shevchuk, talks spirituality and politics

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:58:00 -0600

The Greek Catholic Church in Ukraine has survived turbulent times, including when it was driven underground during Soviet rule. Today, the Church makes its way in a free Ukraine. But that doesn’t mean it operates in a world free from politics.Worldview talks to the Church’s new leader, Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk. Known as Patriarch to his flock, he's only 41 years old. Shevchuk's predecessor willingly retired to turn over leadership to him. Known in the Church as a charismatic leader, the Archbishop gives Worldview a mini-history of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and its place in Ukraine’s spiritual and political life.During the original boradcast, it was eronneously stated that Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk is head of the Roman Catholic Church in Ukraine. We regret the error.

U.S. and European Union encouraged by Burma's reforms

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:44:00 -0600

Britian’s Foreign Minister William Hauge, France's Minister of Foreign Affairs Alan Juppé, and U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell are the latest in a parade of political leaders to visit Burma since the government initiated a series of reforms.After half a century of brutal military rule, the reforms are indeed unprecedented. The government of Burma, formerly known as Myanmar, recently signed a cease fire with a major rebel group. Burma also released 651 political prisoners, which prompted the U.S. to send an ambassador into the country, something which hasn't happened since 1988.The next critical juncture for the Southeast Asian country comes this April, when Burma holds parliamentary elections. Democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi, who spent almost 15 years under house arrest, plans to run for office. Today, Burma’s capital is overflowing with Western businessmen anticipating the end of sanctions and the "opening" of the country.Maureen Aung Thwin is director of the Open Society Foundation’s Burma Project. She tells Worldview what Burma's reform efforts might mean for the country's 55 million people.

Worldview 1.17.12

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:47:00 -0600

The U.S. and the European Union have responded positively to the latest reforms by Burma’s military junta. The U.S. has said it will restore full diplomatic relations; there's also talk of potentially lifting sanctions. Maureen Aung-Thwin, director of the Burma Project at the Open Society Foundation, tells us what this may mean for the country. Also, Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, the charismatic new leader of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church, is only 40 years old. Worldview talks to him about opportunities and challenges, both political and spiritual, in Ukraine.

Worldview 1.16.12

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 16:00:00 -0600

Worldview takes a break for MLK Day. Increasingly, people around the globe are inspired to tune in and turn on to alternative energy sources. They're reaching for the sun, for unexpected bounties on earth and, more often than not, for each other to power the planet. Today on Latitudes, we’ll hear energy stories from the Middle East, the Philippines, Burma, and South Africa.

Worldview 1.12.12

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 21:28:00 -0600

Before Kim Jong-il's death the United States offered to provide food aid to North Korea if it halted its uranium enrichment program. North Korea has indicated it may be open to negotiations on such a deal. And, the Obama administration says it plans to shift its military policy toward Asia. Worldview talks with University of Chicago professor Bruce Cumings about what it all means. And WBEZ's Alison Cuddy tells Worldview about a host of French film initiatives in Chicago, including “The Tournees Festival of New French Cinema,” at the University of Chicago. The latest film in the series, A Screaming Man, shows Friday night. The film explores the personal and political fall-out of civil war in Chad.

U of C professor talks North Korea, Obama's beefed up Asia-Pacific policy

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 18:00:00 -0600

North Korea’s government-run Central News Agency announced yesterday that the body of Kim Jong-il will be embalmed and laid in state next to Kim Jong-un, his father and founder of the communist state. The regime also alleges it will build “smiling portraits” of Kim and “towers to his immortality.” The efforts reinforce the power of the Kim dynasty, as Kim Jong-il’s son Kim Jong-un takes over as the new “Supreme Leader.”Before Kim Jong-il's death the United States offered to provide food aid to North Korea if it halted its uranium enrichment program. North Korea has indicated it may be open to negotiations on such a deal. And, the Obama administration says it plans to shift its military policy toward Asia, away from the Middle East. Worldview talks with Bruce Cumings, chairman of the University of Chicago's history department and author of several books, including, most recently, The Korean War: A History, about what it all means.

Fuel subsidy cuts spark protests in an already volatile Nigeria

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:23:00 -0600

On Monday, the Nigerian government announced it would end two decades of fuel subsidies. The actions prompted a nationwide strike in a country already rocked by deadly religious tensions in the north.Now, the country’s top oil union - which represents 20,000 oil and gas workers - is threatening to completely shut down oil production if President Goodluck Jonathan doesn’t reverse his decision.Clement Adibe, a professor of political science at DePaul University, provides analysis. He’s originally from the Niger Delta.

Ethnic tensions on the rise in South Sudan

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:15:00 -0600

There were high expectations and a sense of euphoria when South Sudan gained independence from the North last July. It was a battle hard won after years of fighting. But in recent months the challenges have added up. In the last few months there have been reports that clashes between two ethnic groups in South Sudan have led to mass killing. A massacre in one village left at least 3,000 dead. Tens of thousands were displaced.Chicagoan Kenneth Elisapana is originally from Southern Sudan. He’s the founder of an organization called South Sudan Voices of Hope for Relief and Development, which runs a number of development projects in the country. He tells Worldview what's behind the recent explosion of violence.

Worldview 1.12.12

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 15:31:00 -0600

There were high expectations last July when South Sudan, the world’s newest country, gained independence. But tensions between rival ethnic groups have exploded in recent months and hundreds have died as a result. Chicagoan Kenneth Elisapana, who is originally from South Sudan, explains what's behind the recent violence. Also, protests recently erupted in Nigeria when the government announced cuts to fuel subsidies. DePaul University’s Clement Adibe says the move, while unpopular, was necessary to fight corruption in the oil economy. And, on Global Activism, Worldview talks with Katherine Darnstadt and Laura Bowe of Architecture for Humanity. The organization brings architects, designers, engineers and people in construction together to help provide solutions to communities in need.

DePaul University’s Cherif Bassiouni discusses what’s next for Arab Spring

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 16:24:00 -0600

This past November, DePaul University professor Cherif Bassiouni had the unusual task of sitting down with the King of Bahrain to tell him about injustices that were carried out in his country, on his watch. The conversation was part of Cherif's job, as chair of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry.In a display of his commitment to reform, Bahrain's King Hamad had established this commission after violent clashes between security forces and anti-government protesters caught the world's attention last year. Tasked with investigating all sides of the multi-dimensional conflict, Cherif Bassiouni ultimately released a 500 page report. It confirmed some uncomfortable truths for the regime: that protestors had been killed, that Bahraini protesters were fired from their jobs and detained without full legal rights, and that torture was systematic during the uprising.Worldview talks to Cherif Bassiouni, president emeritus of DePaul's International Human Rights Law Institute, about his work in Bahrain. He also shares his thoughts on the Arab world's transformative year.

Worldview 1.11.12

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 15:41:00 -0600

The Arab uprisings have kept DePaul University professor emeritus Cherif Bassiouni very busy. Last summer, he went to Libya to monitor the revolution. He also headed a controversial report about alleged government abuses in Bahrain. Cherif gives Worldview his take on the Arab world’s transformative year. Also, Senegalese artist Youssou N'Dour recently announced he’s running for president. It’s not the first time a musician has made the leap into politics. On Global Notes, Jerome and Eight Forty-Eight and Radio M host Tony Sarabia listen to what happens when politics and music intersect.

Film ‘Beneath The Blindfold’ documents the lives of torture survivors in Chicago

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 17:43:00 -0600

The new documentary Beneath the Blindfold delves into a gritty topic that's rarely discussed: how survivors of torture struggle to rebuild their lives.In the film, four diverse individuals - a nursing home aide from Africa, an actor from Colombia, a U.S. navy veteran from Chicago, and a physician from Guatemala - share their battle to heal the physical and psychological wounds of torture, and reclaim their dignity. These individuals represent just four of the 500,000 torture survivors who currently live in the U.S.Worldview talks to Kathy Berger and Ines Sommer, the directors of the film, about the story they are trying to tell. Dr. Mary Fabri, a psychologist and senior director at the Marjorie Kovler Center, also provides analysis on how the effects of torture linger in our community. A part of Heartland Alliance, The Kovler Center is the pioneering torture treatment center that’s operated in Chicago for more than 25 years.Beneath the Blindfold debuts this Friday at the Gene Siskel Film Center. The film also runs next week on Thursday, January 19.

Chicago could become first city in the U.S. to oppose all forms of torture

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 16:08:00 -0600

This Thursday, the Chicago City Council will consider a new resolution that publicly condemns torture. If it passes, it would make Chicago the first city in the U.S. to oppose torture in all forms. Anti-torture activists say they hope the resolution will send a strong message of solidarity against a practice that, they believe, is all too routine in prisons and conflicts around the world.Worldview talks to two Chicago residents who are pushing for the resolution. Mario Venegas was tortured under the Pinochet dictatorship in Chile; he's now a member of the Illinois Coalition Against Torture. And Dr. Frank Summers is a psychologist who works with torture survivors. He's also president-elect of the division of psychoanalysis at the American Psychological Association. They explain why they want Chicago to take an explicit stand against torture.

Worldview 1.10.12

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:34:00 -0600

A resolution that calls for an end to torture will be brought before the Chicago City Council this Thursday. If the resolution passes, it would make Chicago the first city in the U.S. to oppose all forms of torture. Local residents Mario Venagas, a Chilean torture survivor, and Dr. Frank Summers, a psychologist, discuss why this resolution matters. Later, Worldview takes you inside the film Beneath the Blindfold with directors Ines Sommer and Kathy Berger. The film follows four survivors of political torture as they try to overcome the lasting effects of their imprisonment and reclaim their dignity. It premieres this Friday at the Gene Siskel Film Center.

The 2012 Farm Bill opens up for debate

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:24:00 -0600

Once every five years, Congress negotiates a new version of the Farm Bill, which plays a defining role in how we eat. This single piece of legislation sets the agenda for five years of government spending on food, impacting everything from food assistance programs to school lunches, crop subsidies, organic farming and conservation. Farmers in the U.S. and around the world follow the bill with rapt attention, as U.S. subsidies are a make or break economic issue for many.Worldview discusses what might and might not make it into the 2012 legislation with Marion Nestle, professor of nutrition, food studies and public health at New York University. She writes the blog Food Politics. Her upcoming book is Why Calories Count: from Science to Politics.

Worldview 1.9.12

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:46:00 -0600

The 2012 Farm Bill has now opened up for debate by Congress after the bi-partisan super committee failed to reach an agreement on how to make allocated cuts to reduce the federal budget deficit. The Farm Bill began as legislation to protect farmers against risks such as drought. But over the years, it's come to encompass programs that range from school lunch to organic food production. Worldview talks to Marion Nestle, professor of nutrition, food studies, and public health at New York University, about what some of the changes we could see in this year's bill. And, France has long been a country with a reputation for some of the best food in the world. But some say that's all changing. The BBC's Robyn Bresnahan reports on the battle between the old and new in French cuisine.

In France, modernists and traditionalists clash over the definition of French cuisine

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:36:00 -0600

France has long been a country with a reputation for some of the best food in the world. But in recent years, many critics have argued that French cuisine has lost its way.Today, there's a new generation of food-lovers hoping to reclaim France's place at the top table. But what do the traditionalists make of it all? Robyn Bresnahan reports.This segment originally aired on the BBC's Assignment.

Worldview 1.6.12

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 17:57:00 -0600

Hungary’s conservative Fidesz party overhauled the central European nation’s constitution and passed laws that consolidate power. The changes may violate the Lisbon Treaty, which governs E.U. membership. Kim Lane Scheppele, who studies comparative constitutional law, tells Worldview she’s rarely seen a full-blown democracy so recklessly dismantled. Also, Rio de Janeiro is set to host the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics. But the process of turning Rio into a “global city” involves demolishing buildings and evicting residents of Rio’s slums, known as favelas. Worldview talks with Theresa Williamson, executive director of Catalytic Communities, an organization dedicated to bringing visibility to favela communities. And film contributor Milos Stehlik reviews The Conquest, a film about French President Nicolas Sarkozy's rise to power.

While defense gets cut, budget remains bigger than mid-1990s

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 17:42:00 -0600

President Obama went to the Pentagon today to announce a broad, new defense strategy that includes hundreds of billions of dollars in cuts to the current military budget. The president said that despite the cuts, the U.S. would maintain its military "superiority."Worldview takes a look at the new plan with Lawrence Korb, a senior fellow at Center for American Progress. He was assistant secretary of defense under President Reagan.

Louder than a Bomb, Chicago's youth poetry slam, takes an overseas tour

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 16:46:00 -0600

The new documentary Louder than a Bomb depicts the world’s largest youth poetry slam, which takes place here in Chicago. Every year, students from local high schools gather to tell their stories in the form of highly emotional, expressive spoken word poetry. And every year, the crowd goes wild.But what happens when you try to share this quintessentially Chicago story with audiences abroad? Co-director Jon Siskel recently found out when the U.S. State Department chose Louder than a Bomb for an initiatve called the American Documentary Showcase.Jon traveled to the Netherlands and Angola to screen the film and soon he'll head to Burma. His collaborators took it to Malawi, Zambia, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan. He talks to Worldview about how this story, one that's rooted in Chicago's urban youth culture, translates abroad.To listen to Louder than a Bomb finalists from the past six year recite their poetry, click here. To hear full-length recordings of LTAB events, click here. Watch the trailer for Louder than a Bomb: In this extra from the film, Nova Venerable reads her poem "Apartment on Austin": Nate Marshall reads his poem "Super Tuesday":

Worldview 1.5.12

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 15:42:00 -0600

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is expected to announce $450 billion in cuts from the defense budget over the next ten years. Lawrence Korb, senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, explains the implications for foreign policy. Also, the new documentary Louder Than a Bomb depicts the world’s largest youth poetry slam, which happens every year in Chicago. But what happens when you try to share this quintessentially Chicago story with kids in other countries? Co-director Jon Siskel tells Worldview about his global experiences screening the film as part of a U.S. State Department initiative. And on Global Activism, Aliya de Grazia tells us about some of the big changes taking place in Mulot, Kenya, now that the village has clean water.

Local Syrian-American says family in Homs lives in fear

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 17:34:00 -0600

Since violence first erupted in Syria last spring, the city of Homs has been a flashpoint between government forces and pro-democracy demonstrators. More recently, military defectors have taken up armed resistance against snipers who patrol the streets. Entire neighborhoods have shut down. Business has ground to a halt. Worldview first spoke with Hanna, a local dentist originally from Homs, back in April. Earlier this week, her second cousin — a 68-year-old U.S. citizen — was gunned down after leaving his mosque in Homs. Hanna believes he’s the first American citizen to die in the Syrian uprising. She gives her perspective on the deteriorating political climate in Syria.Note: Hanna is using a pseudonym here to protect family back in Syria.

Palestinian organic farmers gaining access to global market through fair trade

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 17:26:00 -0600

Palestine has a small but strong community of sustainable farmers who harvest olive oil, honey, almonds, tahini, cous cous and more. But year after year, politics complicates the harvest. Palestine’s isolation from the world makes it hard for these farmers to fully take part in the growing organic food movement.Vivien Sansour represents the Palestine Fair Trade Association. She's also the promotions manager for an olive farmer’s collective in the country called Canaan Fair Trade. She tells Worldview what life is like for Palestinian farmers.

Worldview 1.4.12

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 15:28:00 -0600

Life has ground to a halt in the violence-stricken city of Homs, Syria. Some neighborhoods lack electricity and many households are struggling to get food on the table. Worldview talks to a local Syrian-American dentist who fears for her family’s safety back in Homs; last month, one of her relatives was shot and killed after leaving a mosque. Later, Vivien Sansour, a representative from the Palestine Fair Trade Association, describes what it’s like for small farmers who are trying to participate in the world’s growing organic movement despite Palestine’s political isolation. And on Global Notes, Jerome and Radio M host Tony Sarabia listen to the album Voice of the Seven Woods from aural-globetrotting British guitarist Rick Tomlinson.

Fifty years ago in the U.K., birth control transformed sex lives, mores

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 17:39:00 -0600

On December 4, 1961, the contraceptive pill became widely available for the first time in the United Kingdom. For married women, this meant reliable, convenient family planning. For unmarried women, it meant unprecedented sexual freedom.The BBC's Claire Bowes talks to the writer Michelene Wandor, who was a student at Cambridge University in 1961, about this turning point in reproductive health.This piece orignially aired on the BBC World Service.

Parents around the globe using modern technology to choose boys over girls

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 16:35:00 -0600

The selective termination of a pregnancy based on gender is on the rise globally. Science has made it easier than ever to detect the sex of a fetus and to determine whether to continue or end a pregnancy. The phenomenon is growing not only in countries like China and India, but also in places like Vietnam, Korea, Georgia and Albania.Mara Hvistendahl is the Beijing-based correspondent for Science magazine and author of Unnatural Selection: Choosing Boys Over Girls and the Consequences of a World Full of Men. She tells Worldview why, as sex selection becomes more common and the world becomes increasingly male, we may face profound social upheaval down the road.

Worldview 1.3.12

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 15:52:00 -0600

With modern technologies like ultrasounds and pre-natal screenings, it's becoming easier for parents to selectively terminate a pregnancy based on gender. And in countries around the world -- from China to India, Vietnam, Korea, Georgia and Albania -- this form of sex selection is on the rise. To explore this phenomenon, Worldview talks to Mara Hvistendahl, the Beijing-based correspondent for Science magazine and author of Unnatural Selection: Choosing Boys Over Girls and the Consequences of a World Full of Men. And, a BBC report reflects on the introduction of birth control in the U.K. 50 years ago.

Worldview 12.30.11

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 15:00:00 -0600

The world lost a remarkable person when Wangari Maathai, 71, died of ovarian cancer in September. Wangari founded the Green Belt Movement, an effort to reforest her native Kenya by paying poor women to plant trees. In 2004, she became the first African woman in history to win the Nobel Peace Prize. On the international stage, she helped cement the connection between environmental protection and peace-making, human rights and security. Today, Worldview revisits a 2007 conversation about her autobiography Unbowed. And German broadcaster Deutsche Welle profiles a young Ghanaian, Solomon Tetteh, who is making a future out of Accra’s trash heap.

Worldview 12.29.11

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 15:00:00 -0600

Chicago lost a one-of-a-kind gay activist this summer when Ifti Nasim died at the age of 64. He left his native Pakistan more than 30 years ago to live an openly gay life. In Chicago, Ifti became an advocate for South Asia's gay community, which faces intense internal stigma. He also hosted a local radio show, founded an LGBT group South Asians and became the first person ever to publish a book of gay-themed poetry in Urdu. To honor his memory, Worldview revisits a conversation with Ifti from last year. Also, Mfangano Island on Kenya’s Lake Victoria has one of the highest rates of HIV in the world. On today's Global Activism, two brothers behind the organization Organic Health Response explain how they've harnessed 21st century tools to fight HIV/AIDS on Mfangano.

Worldview 12.28.11

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 15:00:00 -0600

Jerome and Radio M host Tony Sarabia revisit two "Musical Show and Tells," in-studio performance chats with local musicians who play a global instrument. Back in August, Iranian-American Mehran Jalili showed off his blend of flamenco guitar and Persian rhythms. Last fall, Felipe Fraga gave a lesson on the cuica, a curious Brazilian drum that produces a sound similar to a dog’s whimper…in a good way.

Worldview 12.27.11

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 15:00:00 -0600

Today, Worldview presents installments from Ground Shifters: Stories of Women Changing Unseen Worlds, a series about women and girls in Bolivia and Ciudad Juárez, Mexico by Jean Friedman-Rudovsky. It is part of an ongoing collaboration between WBEZ and the Ellen Stone Belic Institute for the Study of Women & Gender in the Arts & Media. Close to 1,500 women in Ciudad Juárez have been disappeared in the last decade. Friedman-Rudovsky profiles Marisela Ortiz, an activist who’s spent years fighting for families of what's known as "femicide." And, Ground Shifters examines a women’s prison in La Paz, Bolivia that functions almost like a miniature city. It has shops, businesses, a school and even a union. Finally, Friedman-Rudovsky meets Ana, Brigida and Noemí, young girls in La Paz, Bolivia who are among the 100,000 unionized child workers in Latin America.

Worldview 12.23.11

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 15:00:00 -0600

For a lot of people, New Year's Eve is an excuse to get highly intoxicated. For Worldview, it's a reason to discuss how and why we drink. Dwight Heath, a professor of anthropology at Brown University and author of Drinking Occasions: Comparative Perspectives on Alcohol and Culture, describes how culture shapes drinking habits. Northwestern University professor Yohanan Petrovsky-Shtern says history explains why alcoholism is so pervasive in Russia.

Worldview 12.22.11

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 15:00:00 -0600

Today, Worldview spends the hour revisiting stories from the Global Activism series. Cristi Hegranes, the founder of the Global Press Institute, explains why she started a non-profit media organization to train women to be journalists. Educator Christopher Flint talks about AACTION Autism, his Chicago-based organization that works with autistic kids in India. And, the founder of Mindful Medicine Worldwide says her group's integrative health care services have helped patients in Nepal.

Worldview 12.21.11

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 15:00:00 -0600

You wouldn’t know it from the rancorous national debate, but the flow of immigrants from Mexico to the U.S. has slowed to a halt. Worldview talks to Douglas Massey, co-director of Princeton University’s Mexican Migration Project, who says the reasons have as much to do with improved education and economic prospects in Mexico as they do beefed up security on the border. Also, an exhibit at the Cambodian Association of Illinois uses images, artifacts and personal stories to shed light on the genocide. Two local Cambodians tell their story of survival. Global Notes explores another consequence of the Khmer Rouge: the death of 90 percent of Cambodia's artists. Evanston native Dan Schwarzlose introduces Jerome and Radio M host Tony Sarabia to some of the traditional Cambodian music he's dedicated his life to preserving.

Worldview 12.20.11

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 15:00:00 -0600

Chilean economist Alfredo Sfeir Younis spent more than 30 years at the World Bank tackling the rights of indigenous peoples, poverty eradication and international trade. Today, Alfredo leads a slightly different life: He's a Mayan priest and president of the Zambuling Institute for Human Transformation, an organization that works on the connections between spirituality and public policy. On his current tour of the U.S., he's meeting with "Occupy" protesters. Alfredo argues, in order for humanity to thrive, the world must challenge some fundamental ideas of how we order, value and measure our society.

Worldview 12.19.11

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 15:00:00 -0600

Fifty years after the civil rights era, and almost 150 years after slavery, the vast majority of the images we see in film and on television are still of white Americans. Today in our occasional series, Images, Movies and Race, Milos Stehlik looks at why media and movies are so out of touch with the country's real diversity. Two African-American pioneers in advertising join the discussion.

Worldview 12.16.11

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 23:39:00 -0600

It was a monumental year in news what with the Arab spring, death of Osama bin Laden, Wikileaks cables and withdrawal from Iraq. But according to Joshua Keating, the associate editor of Foreign Policy, a lot of big stories fell through the cracks. Joshua, Palestinian-American journalist Ali Abunimah and Tuyet Le, director of Chicago’s Asian American Institute, weigh in on the most overlooked stories of 2011. To join the discussion, call 312.923.9239 or tweet; our handle is @WBEZWorldview.

In a year of world-changing news, the stories that slipped through the cracks

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 16:09:00 -0600

By all measures, 2011 was a big year for international news. It may go down in the history books for being as transformative as 1989, when the Soviet Empire fell.Mass protests transformed the Middle East. The sovereign debt crisis is torching the Eurozone. Let’s not forget Fukishima. Occupy. Osama. Just yesterday the Iraq War was declared officially over.There were, however, other big stories that got lost in the shuffle. Worldview explores the under-reported stories of 2011 with Joshua Keating, associate editor at Foreign Policy; Ali Abunimah, a Palestinian American journalist; and Tuyet Le, director of Chicago's Asian American Institute. Add your thoughts to the conversation by calling 312.923.9239 or sending us a tweet. Our handle is @WBEZWorldview.

Call-in: The best and worst of the year in global film

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 17:32:00 -0600

Today, Worldview turns to some major tastemakers to talk about the year in film: the best, worst, most groundbreaking, most overrated, most underrated…the works. Film contributor Milos Stehlik of Facets Multimedia co-hosts. Jonathan Rosenbaum, the longtime film critic for the Chicago Reader, and Tom Luddy, a movie producer and co-director of the Telluride Film Festival, also share their opinions.Which films stood out to you? To weigh in during the live discussion, call 312.923.9239. You can also tweet. Our handle is @WBEZWorldview. Milos Stehlik's Top Films of 2011 (in no particular order)1. Turin Horse2. A Separation2. In Darkness4. We Need to Talk about Kevin 5. Tree of Life6. Kid with a Bike7. Le Havre Milos Stehlik's favorite documentaries of 2011 (in no particular order)1. Into the Abyss2. Cave of Forgotten Dreams Jonathan Rosenbaum's top picks for 20111. A Brighter Summer Day2. Poetry3. Le Quattro Volte4. Mysteries of Lisbon5. A Dangerous Method6. Road to Nowhere7. Putty Hill8. Nostalgia for the Light9. Cave of Forgotten Dreams10. The Skin I Live In11. Meek’s Cutoff12. A Useful Life13. Take Shelter14. Into the Abyss15. Go Go Tales16. Serge Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life17. Hugo18. Carnage19. My Perestroika20. The Interrupters

Worldview 12.15.11

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 15:51:00 -0600

Film contributor Milos Stehlik co-hosts the show and discusses 2011’s best, worst, most memorable and most outrageous films with two of his industry friends. Jonathan Rosenbaum, former film critic at the Chicago Reader, presents his top picks and Tom Luddy, co-founder of the Telluride Film Festival, ruminates on the state of foreign film. To join the discussion, call 312.923.9239 or share your thoughts on Twitter. We're @WBEZWorldview.

Local Iraqi-American looks at U.S. role in Iraq as troops leave

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 17:37:00 -0600

The countdown to a post-war era has begun: U.S. troops will exit Iraq by the end of this month. And as the U.S. withdraws, a few numbers are being cited by the news media. Take, for instance, 4,500: that's the total number of Americans killed. There's eight, the number of years the mission lasted. And there's one trillion, the war's price tag in dollars for the United States.But there's another set of numbers that is rarely discussed. On the Iraqi side of the war, hundreds of thousands of civilians are estimated to have died. And in the past ten years, the number of Iraqis living in slum conditions has gone from 15 to 50 percent.Today, Laith Saud, an Iraqi-American and professor at DePaul University's department of religious studies, does a cost-benefit analysis on the U.S. role in the Iraq war.

Worldview 12.14.11

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 15:44:00 -0600

After an emotionally and economically exhaustive eight-year war, President Obama will withdraw all U.S. troops from Iraq by the end of this month. Laith Saud, an Iraqi-American who teaches Islamic world studies at DePaul University, reveals his thoughts on what Iraq’s future might look like in a region dramatically transformed by the Arab spring. And on Global Notes, Jerome and Radio M host Tony Sarabia present their picks for best album of the year.

Questions raised about Turkish government's effort to exert control over Internet

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 18:28:00 -0600

Amidst political turmoil in countries like Syria, Egypt and Libya, Turkey has asserted itself as a regional leader and model for democracy in the Islamic world. But ramped up government controls over Internet access could tarnish Turkey’s global image.The new rules were introduced three months ago but didn’t come into effect until November for "technical reasons," according to the government. Tens of thousands of Turks have already gone to the streets to protest the controls, marching under the motto "Hands off my Internet!" While officials call the Internet filters "voluntary," fears persist that it could pave the way to even more restrictive censorship. Matthew Brunwasser's report originally aired on Deutsche Welle. Worldview acquired it through the Public Radio Exchange.

Hiding but not scared: a Syrian activist’s story of peaceful resistance

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 15:59:00 -0600

Yesterday, the United Nations announced that the official death toll in Syria has exceeded 5,000 people, including 300 children. Syria’s U.N. ambassador reacted quickly, saying the alleged death toll is part of a “huge conspiracy concocted against Syria.” Meanwhile, President Bashar al-Assad is urging Syrians to head to the polls for local elections, in an attempt to show his willingness to reform.But multiple reports say that most people are abstaining. Those who have voted, reports say, either support the regime or have been forced to the polls. On the opposition front, a massive general strike across Syria is now entering its third day; organizers hope it will further cripple the president's hold on the country.Osama Nassar is one of the strike’s organizers. Currently hiding somewhere in Syria, he has led non-violent protests against Assad since they began last March. The protests he and his friends have organized in the Damascus suburb of Daraya are recognizable by the roses they hand out to everyone, including the soldiers who are there to stop them. Osama tells Worldview why he’s continuing to risk his life to speak out against President Assad.

BBC investigates thousands of unmarked graves in Kashmir

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 15:34:00 -0600

The disputed region of Kashmir has long been a flashpoint for strained relations between India and Pakistan. The recent discovery of 6,000 bodies in unmarked graves in Kashmir’s India-administered area has underscored the conflict’s human toll. Who are these people and what happened to them?For the BBC program Assignment, Jill McGivering reports from Kashmir. Note: Worldview aired part of this report last week, but it was interrupted when WBEZ cut to breaking news coverage of Rob Blagojevich's sentencing.

Worldvew 12.13.11

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 15:20:00 -0600

In Syria, it’s the second day of a massive general strike that's designed to further cripple President Assad’s regime. Worldview has a rare conversation with one of the strike’s organizers, Osama Nassar, who's currently in hiding. Also, as many as 6,000 bodies are believed to be buried in unmarked graves in Indian-controlled Kashmir. Who are these people and what happened to them? For the BBC’s Assignment, Jill McGivering reports on the human cost of the decades-long conflict in Kashmir. And, a new Internet filter is now in effect across Turkey. Tens of thousands of Turks have held protests across the country under the motto "Hands off my Internet!” Although Turkish officials have called the filter "voluntary," fears persist that it could lead the way toward even more restrictive Internet policies. Matthew Brunwasser reports from Istanbul.

How to recreate the taste of Africa in Chicago? Immigrants share stories of culinary adaptation

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 18:27:00 -0600

Worldview's Shanika Gunaratna speaks with African immigrants here in Chicago to find out how they try to recreate the tastes of home. They all agree on one thing: while the flavors of their native dishes are almost impossible to conjure up here, that won’t keep them from trying.

In Russia, democracy protests erupt

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 16:47:00 -0600

This weekend, Russians hit the streets by the tens of thousands to protest alleged vote rigging in the country's parliamentary elections. Taking place in 60 cities, the protests were the largest anti-government activism that post-Soviet Russia has ever seen. They also signal a growing impatience with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's unilateral hold on the country's politics.Today, Russia surprised us once again as mining titan (and New Jersey Nets owner) Mikhail Prokhorov announced that he will challenge Putin in the presidential elections.Katrina vanden Heuvel, editor and publisher of The Nation, provides analysis. In her recent article, "Russia's Great December Evolution," Katrina says that "under the radar and virtually unreported in the US, a new civic activism has been emerging" in Russia, a nation that has long accepted Putin's vacuous brand of democracy.

Worldview 12.12.11

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 15:32:00 -0600

Tens of thousands of people filled Moscow's streets on Saturday to protest last week's parliamentary elections, which were widely seen as fraudulent in favor Vladimir Putin's United Russia party. We examine the protest's repercussions. Also, many ingredients used in African cooking didn’t actually originate in Africa – even items like cassava, which we normally think of as traditionally “African.” Today, as part of our Food Mondays series, we talk with James McCann, author of Stirring the Post: A History of African Cuisine. In his book, James uses African cooking as a lens to examine the continent’s multi-faceted social history and culture. And African immigrants tell us about the foods they miss most and how they attempt to recreate those dishes here in Chicago.

As Greece struggles, new museum showcases Hellenic culture from ancient Athens to Chicago

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 18:37:00 -0600

The National Hellenic Museum opens its doors to the public for the first time on Saturday. The museum, located on Halsted Street in Chicago’s Greektown neighborhood, showcases everything from antiquities to the contemporary Greek-American experience.The opening comes at a time when Greece has dominated international headlines for catalyzing the European debt crisis. Attorney Endy Zemenides is the executive director of the Hellenic American Leadership Council and the legal counsel for the The National Hellenic Museum. He explains what the museum means for the Greek-American community at a time of instability for Greece.

As EU’s woes continue, aspiring members in the Balkans struggle to find their place

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 18:10:00 -0600

Members of the Euro zone reached an agreement late last night that would tighten financial regulations and force fiscal discipline. The landmark shift in economic policy is the latest response to the European economic crisis.As EU members attend to their financial mess, one aspect that’s getting little attention is what this all means for nations in the Western Balkans: Serbia, Bosnia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Croatia and Kosovo. The prospect of EU accession for these countries has started the process of bringing the Balkans together again after long war.But with the EU’s richer nations losing patience with current members such as Greece, Spain and Italy, the integration of the poorer Balkan countries seems less certain, despite the region's significant reforms.Marco Prelec, the director of the International Crisis Group's Balkans Project, provides analysis.

Worldview 12.9.11

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 15:00:00 -0600

Roughly 350,000 Bahá’ís live in Iran. Worldview speaks with Glen Fullmer, national spokesperson for the Bahá’í in the U.S., about the oppression, disappearances and human rights violations against the Bahá’í of Iran. As Europe's economic crisis continues, E.U. integration for Balkan nations seems to be losing its luster. Marko Prelec, a Balkan expert with the International Crisis Group, tells Worldview what this could mean for the fragile region. The National Hellenic Museum, located in the heart of Chicago’s "Greektown," opens its doors to the public for the first time tomorrow. Endy Zemenides, executive director of the Hellenic-American Leadership Council, explains the museum's significance to Greek Americans and discusses the community's reactions to the economic crisis in Greece. And, film contributor Milos Stehlik reviews Pedro Almodovar’s new film The Skin I Live In.

U.S. defense bill provision would indefinitely detain American citizens

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 05:15:00 -0600

Last week, the Senate passed a defense bill that would give the military the power to arrest and indefinitely detain Americans suspected of terrorism, including those on U.S. soil.Months after Osama Bin Laden's assassination and shortly before a complete withdrawal from Iraq, the bill appears to put the U.S. on war footing.Civil libertarians are up in arms about the National Defense Authorization Act, saying it would enable the government to treat U.S. citizens just as they treated foreign detainees at Guantanamo Bay. Meanwhile, President Obama is leaving open the possibility of a veto.Doug Cassel, Worldview's human rights contributor and a professor at the University of Notre Dame Law School, provides analysis.

Worldview 12.8.11

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 15:31:00 -0600

Congress is close to passing a defense bill with a provision that would allow Americans suspected of terrorism to be detained indefinitely. Worldview’s human rights contributor Doug Cassel explains the implications. Also, in Hindi, pukar means “a clear call.” Not coincidentally, it’s also the acronym for Partners for Urban Knowledge Action and Research, the organization headed by former Chicago-based pediatrician Anita Deshmukh. She tells Worldview what drew her back to her native India to work in development. Lastly, WBEZ's Lynette Kalsnes reports on a new exhibit on the South Side that highlights a chapter of history largely unknown in the U.S. The exhibit, at the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture, tells the story of Lithuanians who were forced by Stalin to leave their homes and labor in Siberia.

BBC investigates thousands of unmarked graves in Kashmir

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 17:56:00 -0600

The disputed region of Kashmir has long been a flashpoint for strained relations between India and Pakistan. And the recent discovery of 6,000 bodies in unmarked graves in Kashmir’s India-administered area has underscored the conflict’s human toll. Who are these people and what happened to them?For the BBC’s Assignment, Jill McGivering reports from Kashmir.

Worldview 12.7.11

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 16:04:00 -0600

As many as 6,000 bodies are believed to be buried in unmarked graves in Indian-administered Kashmir. For the BBC’s Assignment, Jill McGivering reports on the human cost of the conflict in Kashmir.Note: Due to breaking news coverage of the sentencing of former Illinois Governor Rob Blagojevich, Worldview did not air in its entirety. The show will return tomorrow with a full hour of news and analysis.

Occupy and its adversaries need to find common ground, says rabbi

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 18:20:00 -0600

The Occupy movement has been a learning experience for everyone, including Rabbi Brad Hirschfield, president of the National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership and Beliefnet.com blogger.He gives his take on religious congregations' reaction to Occupy Wall Street.

What's next for Iran?

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 18:00:00 -0600

The tit for tat with Iran continues.After rioting outside Britain's embassy in Tehran, Prime Minister David Cameron expelled Iranian diplomats in London and shuttered their embassy. In the United States, the senate unanimously approved legislation that would penalize any foreign bank that does business with Iran’s central bank. The EU, for its part, increased sanctions.Over the weekend, the Iranians claimed to have shot down a U.S. drone that was on an intelligence gathering mission.Ahmad Sadri, a professor of Islamic world studies at Lake Forest College, parses the latest developments.

Worldview 12.6.11

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 16:24:00 -0600

Last week, Iran claimed it shot down an unmanned U.S. drone aircraft. In response, the U.S. Senate voted to penalize financial institutions that do business with Iran's Central Bank. Britain closed the Iranian Embassy in London and expelled its diplomats after riots outside the British Embassy in Tehran. Worldview discusses these developments with Ahmad Sadri, a professor at Lake Forest College. Also, as the Occupy street protests wind down, Rabbi Brad Hirschfield, author of You Don't Have to be Wrong for Me to be Right: Finding Faith Without Fanaticism, argues that people both for and against the movement need to put aside politics and acknowledge the urgent problems of increasing poverty, income disparity and hopelessness in America.

Talks at convention on conventional weapons fail to produce consensus on cluster bombs

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 17:15:00 -0600

Efforts to ban cluster bombs have been in the works for years. Just last week, the international community considered a new proposal at the Convention on Conventional Weapons in Geneva. But some say the proposal - backed by the U.S., China, Russia and others - would’ve undermined a stricter ban already signed by more 111 nations.Zach Hudson discusses the history of cluster bombs and their current use in warfare. He's coordinator of the U.S. campaign to ban landmines and cluster munitions for Handicap International.

In Laos, American Vietnam-era cluster bombs still pose grave threat

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 17:09:00 -0600

In Laos, unexploded cluster bombs dropped by the U.S. during the Vietnam War still pose real danger to civilians, including children and poor farmers.Titus Peachey is director of peace education for the Mennonite Central Committee. He's worked extensively in Laos to help villagers remove U.S. cluster bombs from their farmland. Titus tells Worldview about the mess that remains after a war with cluster bombs.

Burma’s reforms lead to Secretary Clinton’s historic visit

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 17:05:00 -0600

Until last week, no U.S. secretary of state had visited Burma - considered one of the most repressive regimes in the world - since 1955. Secretary Hillary Clinton's historic visit changed all that, marking a turning point in diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Burma.During her visit, Secretary Clinton met with the country's new president, Thein Sein. He’s the man behind a liberalization and reform process that’s gone faster than anyone expected. Clinton also met famed opposition leader and democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi. After spending 15 years under house arrest, Su Kyi plans to re-enter Burmese politics and run for parliament in the next elections.Maureen Aung Thwin, director of the Burma Project at the Open Society Foundation, provides analysis on what improved relations with the U.S. might mean for democracy-starved Burma.

Worldview 12.5.11

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 15:40:00 -0600

Hillary Clinton’s recent visit to Burma, one of most repressive countries in the world, was the first by a U.S. secretary of state since 1955. Worldview explores the improvement in U.S.–Burma relations with Maureen Aung-Thwin, director of the Burma Project at the Open Society Institute. Also, cluster bombs kill and maim thousands of civilians each year. That’s especially true in Laos, where unexploded ordinances used by the U.S. during Vietnam still pose a grave threat. Titus Peachey, peace director for the Mennonite Central Committee, tells Worldview about the lingering violence. Lastly, a ban on cluster munitions was proposed last week at the Convention on Conventional Weapons in Geneva. Worldview discusses this effort with Zach Hudson, director of the U.S. Campaign to Ban Landmines and Cluster Munitions.

Along with change, Arab Spring brought violence, uncertainty

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 18:58:00 -0600

The developments of the Arab Spring keep on coming. In addition to change, the pro-democracy movement has created uncertainty in an already explosive region.Yesterday, the U.N. High Commissioner on Human Rights said Syria was headed for civil war and called on the international community to protect civilians. With a first round of parliamentary elections, Egyptians took another step toward establishing a civilian government. So far, the Muslim Brotherhood's political party handily beat the liberal bloc that dominated Tahrir Square.Rashid Khalidi, a professor at Columbia University who follows Arab politics, tells Worldview about the Arab Spring's aftermath.

Worldview 12.2.11

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 16:01:00 -0600

University of Chicago theorist Bernard Harcourt believes that a new kind of resistance called "political disobedience" emerged from Zuccotti Park and Occupy protests around the country. He tells Worldview why the media needs a new lexicon to describe the leaderless social movement. Also, with tensions rising in Syria, a potential leadership vacuum in Yemen, and elections in Egypt, the Arab world is in the throes of deep uncertainty. Rashid Khalidi, a professor of Arab studies at Columbia University, ruminates on the aftermath of the uprisings. Later, Milos Stehlik reviews Shame. Steve McQueen’s new film follows a New Yorker whose private life of sexual addiction is disrupted when his sister arrives unannounced for an indefinite stay.

Bolivians with AIDS slowly begin fight against stereotypes

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 17:37:00 -0600

On World AIDS Day, Worldview looks at Bolivia's nascent effort to raise awareness of the disease. Though the epidemic is growing rapidly around the world, Bolivia has the lowest HIV/AIDS prevalence in the region. In the last three years, the Bolivian government has made a concerted effort to educate the public about the epidemic and provide free drugs to those who need them.But Bolivia’s mix of tradition and cultural diversity are proving to be major challenges when it comes to fighting AIDS. Ruxandra Guidi reports.This piece was provided to us through the Public Radio Exchange.

Worldview 12.1.11

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 15:35:00 -0600

A genetic condition that causes lifelong anemia, sickle cell affects millions worldwide, most commonly people of African descent. In Cameroon and parts of Africa, the disease is highly stigmatized and often attributed to witchcraft. Today, Worldview talks with Michael and Florance Neba, who helped organize the first ever international conference on sickle cell in their native Cameroon. Also, the busiest international crossing in the U.S. is in Detroit. Each year, more than $200 billion worth of trade crosses the border here to Canada, with trucks traveling across a privately-owned, highly congested bridge. Though Michigan politicians want to construct a new, state-of-the-art bridge, a wealthy businessman stands in the way. For Front and Center, WBEZ’s Natalie Moore brings us the story of a bridge project that, so far, is going nowhere.

Detroit international bridge project going nowhere

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 13:00:00 -0600

The busiest international crossing in the United States is in Detroit. Each year more than $200 billion worth of trade crosses the border there. Those trucks drive across the Ambassador Bridge--which is privately owned. The bridge is old and congested. Michigan politicians want to construct a new, state-of-the-art bridge. They say it will help increase trade and create jobs but the new bridge has a powerful opponent.I recently visited Windsor, Canada, just across the river from Detroit.I took the Ambassador Bridge, a busy overpass that truckers often use to transport auto parts.But I crossed the river with a friend to dine on veal shank at a swank restaurant.On the way back, my companion rolled down the window to answer questions from a Canadian customs officer.Officer: Where are you coming from?Friend: Little Italy, Windsor.Officer: What brings you here from Chicago?Friend: VacationingThe Detroit River separates Windsor, Ontario from the Motor City. Without traffic, it’s a three-minute drive on the blue, 82-year-old bridge. From both sides, there’s a glittering view of each city’s downtown.But during rush hour, the logjam for commercial trucks can exceed 90 minutes.Lawmakers say a proposed New International Trade Crossing would mitigate that traffic. Ford Motor Co., for example, has 600 trucks that cross this river every day. The company says the delays from sitting in traffic hurt its business.And bridge proponents tout that a new bridge could bring tens of thousands of jobs – just the economic medicine a fiscally battered Michigan needs.I head to Southwest Detroit, the part of town where the proposed bridge would be constructed. Café Con Leche is a coffee shop and community gathering space. Rashida Tlaib represents this area in the Michigan House. She’s elated at the prospect of a new bridge.TLAIB: What’s wonderful about this project is that it’s not like resurfacing a road and putting 50 people to work. It’s 30,000 people and 20,000 of the 30,000 are most likely going to be permanent jobs. That’s amazing. And it’s going to be an infrastructure that keeps giving and giving and giving and giving. div .inline { width: 290px; float: left; margin-right: 19px; margin-left: 3px; clear: left; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1em; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-position: 0pt 5px; padding-left: 3px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; }div .inlineContent { border-top: 1px dotted rgb(170, 33, 29); margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 2px; }ul { margin-left: 15px; }li { font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1em; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-position: 0pt 5px; padding-left: 3px; margin-bottom: 0.5em; } GRAPH: Great Lakes, great source for jobs?Using sound to find leaks and save dollars A new bridge would have toll booths, a customs plaza and to some, hopefully, bring ancillary businesses at the landing: warehouses, gas stations, restaurants.Michigan, like the rest of the region, needs to upgrade infrastructure for the 21st century. Detroit has a huge, ready labor pool. Tlaib says building the new bridge could put those people back to work.TLAIB: My God, there are steelworkers who haven’t been put to work in two years. How can we turn our backs to free money to putting people to work in tolling and revenue?The money she refers to is half a billion dollars that Canada has promised to pony up to construct the new bridge. The total project is $2 billion, a mix of federal money and bonds, which would be repaid through tolls. The state insists the project would involve very little of its money.All of the automakers support a new bridge. Politicians on both sides of the aisle do, too…including Republican Gov. Rick Synder.So what’s holding it up?VOICEOVER AD: Republicans and Democrats agree: Michigan’s potholed roads and crumbling bridges are a mess. Dangerous to our families and hurting our economy. But Rick Synder has a higher priority

Vocational training vs. college education: Lessons from Europe

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 17:08:00 -0600

Thanks to the feverish coverage of the European debt crisis, we know that Germany is the economic engine that’s kept the Eurozone afloat. The Germans attribute their success in large part to their dual education system. At a young age, schoolchildren go on tracks that determine whether they’ll receive vocational training to prepare them for employment or go to university.While the system provides little flexibility, it does deliver on jobs. Germany, as well as Switzerland and Austria — which have similar education models — have the lowest youth unemployment figures in Europe. Young people in countries like France and the U.K., which put a greater emphasis on college degrees, fare much worse. In the U.S., youth unemployment is double that of adults.Pepper Culpepper, a political science professor at the European University Institute in Florence and editor of the book The German Skills Machine, tells Worldview what the U.S. can learn from foreign educational models.

U.S.-Pakistan relations go from bad to worse

podcasts@chicagopublicradio.org (Chicago Public Media) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 16:58:00 -0600

After NATO planes killed 24 Pakistani troops this weekend, Pakistan says it will no longer conduct business as usual with the U.S. Already, the country has closed an Afghanistan supply route, kicked the CIA off an airbase, and said it would boycott an upcoming international conference on Afghanistan.Vali Nasr is a professor of international politics at Tufts University. From 2009 until earlier this year, he was a senior advisor to Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan. Vali tells Worldview how America's relationship with Pakistan is rapidly changing for the worse, and how that may affect U.S. interests throughout the region.