2010 February 05 | PRI's The World

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Archive for February 5th, 2010

Entire program – February 5, 2010

By The World ⋅ February 5, 2010 ⋅ 2 comments ⋅ Transcript

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Today on The World: The story of a 13-year-old Pakistani girl who says her own family tried to force her to become a suicide bomber; Also, how alcoholism is helping to drive down life expectancy for men in Russia; And why the struggling economies of Greece, Spain, and Portugal have become a worry on Wall Street.

Pakistan girl ‘forced to become suicide bomber’

By The World ⋅ February 5, 2010 ⋅ 6 comments ⋅ Transcript

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In Pakistan a shocking account of life with the Taliban has emerged from a 13 year old girl, who says her own family tried to turn her into a suicide bomber. The girl, named Meena, says her brother is a Taliban commander who trained many bombers. There’s no independent verification of her account, but police say they believe she is telling the truth. Meena told her story to the BBC’s Orla Guerin. Download MP3

Europe’s economic troubles could impact US

By The World ⋅ February 5, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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Greece, Spain and Portugal are struggling to revive their economies. And that could be a problem for the whole European Union economy. The World’s Matthew Bell looks at what’s at stake for the US. Download MP3

BBC coverage
Radio coverage on the BBC’s Newshour program
Global Economy podcast

Giving: The Power of Half

By The World ⋅ February 5, 2010 ⋅ 4 comments ⋅ Transcript

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The Salwen family of Atlanta, GA has taken an interesting path to help other people. Inspired by 14-year old Hannah Salwen’s compassion for a homeless man, the Salwens decided to sell their home and give half the money from the sale to charity. Two of the Salwens – husband and father Kevin, and daughter Hannah – have written about their experience in a new book called “The Power of Half”. Marco Werman talks with Kevin and Hannah Salwen. Download MP3

The Power of Half homepage
Book info

Alcoholism a ‘national disaster’ in Russia

By The World ⋅ February 5, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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You might say it’s no country for old men. Russia, that is. Since the breakup of the Soviet Union, Russians have been increasingly ravaged by disease and death. And one of the main reasons is the nation’s favorite drink. There’s so much vodka going down the throats of so many Russians, life expectancy for men has fallen to just 60 years old – about the same as in Myanmar and Haiti. The World’s Laura Lynch ventured out to the Russian countryside to find the roots of the country’s troubles with alcohol. Download MP3

One Cubic Foot

By The World ⋅ February 5, 2010 ⋅ 5 comments ⋅ Transcript

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Just how much life can you find in an ecosystem of one cubic foot? That is the question photographer David Liittschwager set out to answer when photographed a range of different environments on land and in water, in tropical climes and temperate regions and began to chart the living organisms. Download MP3 (Photo: ©2010 David Liittschwager/National Geographic)

Hopeless in Juarez

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Reporter Monica Ortiz Uribe reports on Mexico’s most violent city – Juarez. Earlier this week 16 people were killed at a birthday celebration. Residents are running out of patience with police…and running out of hope that anything will change.

Monica Ortiz Uribe’s photos from Ciudad Juarez

Artic whiskey

By The World ⋅ February 5, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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Researchers working in the Antarctic have recovered five crates of whisky and two crates of brandy belonging to polar explorer Ernest Shackleton, who tried to reach the South Pole in the early twentieth century. The bottles have been embedded in ice for over a century. Anchor Marco Werman speaks with Richard Paterson, Master Blender at Whyte and Mackay, the company that supplied the booze for Shackleton’s polar cruise.

Charges filed in British expense scandal

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Download MP3Prosecutors in Britain filed the first criminal charges against lawmakers accused of abusing the government’s expense reimbursement system. Anchor Marco Werman speaks with the BBC’s Rob Watson, who’s covering the story in London.

Angelique Kidjo

By The World ⋅ February 5, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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a href=”http://www.theworld.org/wp-content/uploads/020520101.jpg”>

Here’s something we’ve said a few times over the years on this program: Angelique Kidjo has a new CD out.

Tech Podcast: Internet Addiction and Depression

By Clark Boyd ⋅ February 5, 2010 ⋅ One comment ⋅ Transcript

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We’ve got a great mix of stories on this week’s podcast. We take you inside a Crisis Camp for Haiti meeting in Montreal, to hear how concerned people thousands of miles away are helping the relief effort. Also, two great stories about design and technology: one concerns an ancient footbridge across the Nile, and the other the humble, but dangerous, British pint glass. And we end with some research into potential links between Internet addiction and depression.

Music Heard On Air for February 5, 2010

By Ann Lopez ⋅ February 5, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

Tunes Spun On The World Between Our Reports For February 5, 2010. Artists featured are Moriba Koita, Jonthan Richman and The Modern Lovers, Shooglenifty, Kila.

Obama’s new words, Avatar in the Amazon and a Chinese satire

By Patrick Cox ⋅ February 5, 2010 ⋅ 2 comments ⋅ Transcript

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As Obama enters the second year of his presidency, he’s dropped some expressions — “war on terror”, “Af-Pak”, even “Middle East”. His administration has invented a few too: “remotedly piloted aircraft” (drones) and “overseas contingency operations” (wars). Also, a special screening of Avatar in Ecuador for indigenous groups. What did these Shuar and Achuar speakers think of Avatar’s invented language, Na’vi? Finally, a new online satirical movie is all the rage in China. It features a Chinese double-entendre phrase aimed at avoiding government censorship. The movie also includes a fantastic “I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore!” rant.
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Haiti Part 2

By Jeb Sharp ⋅ February 5, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

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We continue our exploration of Haiti’s history into the 19th and 20th centuries. Kate Ramsey of the University of Miami tells us about the diplomatic isolation Haiti faced after independence. She also describes the U.S. occupation of Haiti between 1915 and 1934. Chantalle Verna of Florida International University tells us about the period after the U.S. occupation, sometimes called “Haiti’s Second Independence.” And finally, sociologist Alex Dupuy of Wesleyan University tells us about Haiti under the Duvaliers.Download MP3

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Global Political Cartoons: Jan 30-Feb 5, 2010

By The World ⋅ February 5, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment ⋅ Transcript

The World’s Carol Hills reviews the week’s news through political cartoons. This week: Toyota’s faulty gas pedals, Haiti’s vulnerable children, Jacob Zuma’s 20 children, and the groundhog sees the long shadow… of a deficit.