Entire program – February 1, 2010

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Today on The World: What a missile build-up in the Persian Gulf could mean for the United State’s relationship with Iran; Also, Canadians ponder whether spending billions to stage the Vancouver Olympics was worth it; And, we look at the latest recyclable material in fashion — salmon skin.

US missiles and Iran

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The Pentagon says it’s expanding land and sea-based missile defense systems in and around the Persian Gulf. The moves are intended to counter what the US considers a growing missile threat from Iran. The buildup comes as President Obama is pushing for a new round of sanctions against the Iranians over their nuclear program. The World’s Matthew Bell reports that the military expansion seems to be part of an evolving policy toward Iran.

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• BBC coverage
• Defense Department’s Quadrennial Defense Review 2010
• Background Brief: Nuclear Standoff with Iran

Haiti’s child slaves

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Haiti’s children were vulnerable even before the devastating earthquake last month. Most had poor health care and little education. And many were exploited as child “restaveks,” or slaves. Marco Werman talks E. Benjamin Skinner who is the author of “A Crime So Monstrous: Face to Face with modern-day slavery”. Skinner is also a fellow at Harvard’s Carr Center for Human Rights. Download MP3

• BBC Audio slideshow: Haiti’s slave children
• A Crime So Monstrous: book info
• Carr Center for Human Rights

Was it worth it?

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Was it worth it? That’s the question many people are asking in British Columbia with the Olympics just days away. Seven years of planning, construction, and hassle. All told, Canadians will have spent about $6 billion Canadian dollars just to build the infrastructure to prepared for the Games. That’s about $5.6 billion American dollars. The World’s Jason Margolis visited British Columbia to ask. Download MP3 (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Darryl Dyck)

• Vancouver 2010
• Listen to Jason’s previous story: “Long winter for Olympic village businesses”

Charlotte Gainsbourg

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Charlotte Gainsbourg, daughter of English actress Jane Birkin and the legendary French singer-songwriter and provocateur Serge Gainsbourg. Charlotte Gainsbourg has been defining her own path, though, as an actress and singer. She starred in last year’s controversial film “Antichrist.” And this year… she’s come out with a new album. It’s produced — and largely written — by the American hipster-folkie, Beck. The album is called “IRM”… French for “MRI.” As The World’s Adeline Sire explains, it deals with a frightening time in Gainsbourg’s life. Download MP3

• Charlotte Gainsbourg
• Guardian article
• NY Times article

German fish fashion

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Leather made from salmon could be the next big thing in the world of luxury design. Salmon leather has a lot going for it. It’s as strong as cow leather and as exotic as snake skin. This former waste product is now being turned into shoes, clothes, furniture, and even wallpaper. Susan Stone reports that salmon leather made in Germany is making a splash. Download MP3(Photo: Susan Stone)

• Illustrated transcript
• Nanai Leather

Iran opposition plans rally

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The Iranian opposition is calling for more demonstrations against the government on February 11th. That’s the anniversary of the Islamic Revolution. But the regime has begun executing opponents. Anchor Marco Werman discusses the state of the Iranian opposition with Nazila Fathi of the New York Times.

Reprimand for Israeli military officials

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Two senior Israeli military officials have been reprimanded for inappropriate use of force during a conflict with Palestinians one year ago. Israeli soldiers fired at a UN compound where 700 Palestinians had taken refuge. Israeli officials say the reprimand shows that the Israeli army can fairly investigate itself. Linda Gradstein reports.

Technology solutions for Haiti

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In the wake of the Haiti earthquake, ad hoc groups of techies are gathering in various cities across the globe to help develop technologies and platforms to assist in relief efforts. The World’s technology correspondent Clark Boyd attended one of those gatherings.

Geo Quiz

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Where will our Geo Quiz take us today?

Geo answer

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We circle back to Bangladesh now for the answer to today’s Geo Quiz. And that is the city of Dhaka. It’s the capital of Bangladesh… and home to 13 million residents and almost half a million rickshaws. Authorities in Dhaka have a plan to ease the traffic. They’ve decided to carve up the city into seven zones… and have the malls and shops in each zone take a different day off. Not everyone likes the plan. Critics are predicting chaos. But many shop owners, who now work seven days a week, say the plan doesn’t sound so bad.

Olympic note

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Officials powered up a network of about a thousand security cameras in and around Vancouver in advance of the Winter Games starting there later this month. Anchor Marco Werman explains the electronic surveillance is making some privacy watchdogs there nervous.

The rickshaw capital of the world

The Rickshaw Capital of the world figures in today’s Geo Quiz. The city we’re looking for lies on the banks of the Buriganga River. Its population of 13 million makes it the largest city in Bangladesh.

Music Heard on Air for February 1, 2010

Tunes Spun On The World Between Our Reports For February 1, 2010. Artists featured are Afro Celt Sound System, Orchestra Lissanga, Ayub Ogada, Ali Farka Toure, Ry Cooder, Kekele.

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For more than 150 years, St. Vincent’s Hospital Manhattan was a beacon in Greenwich Village, serving poets, writers, artists, winos, the poor and the working-class and gay community. It treated victims of calamities, from the cholera epidemic of 1849 to the sinking of the Titanic, the 9/11 terrorist attack and, just last year, the Hudson [...]