Music Heard on Air for May 18, 2010

Tunes Spun On The World Between Our Reports For May 18, 2010. Artists featured are Ali Farka Toure, Ry Cooder, Alien Chatter, Jesse Cook, Kekele.

Tech Podcast: The laser turns 50

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For this week’s podcast, we celebrate the 50th birthday of “Light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation,” aka the laser! Where would all of us Pink Floyd fans be without this not-so-humble technology? But seriously, we’ll look at the laser’s past, and future. Also, we have an oil spill update, we unmask Latvia’s digital Robin Hood, and we’ll hear about how the Japanese might choose robots over immigrants in caring for the county’s aging population. (Photo: Jeff Keyzer via Wikipedia).

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Entire program – May 17, 2010

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Today on The World: Why the West is skeptical about Iran’s nuclear deal with Turkey; Also, how discontent among the rural poor in Thailand are fueling political tensions in the capital Bangkok; Plus, a gay-themed movie tests new censorship rules in Malaysia.

Iran signs nuclear fuel deal with Turkey

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Years of diplomatic deadlock over Iran’s nuclear program may have reached a breakthrough. Iran says it will ship low-enriched uranium to Turkey. In return, higher-enriched uranium will be sent back to Iran. The proposal is being met with applause and skepticism. The World’s Jason Margolis will have more in today’s show. Download MP3

• BBC coverage
• Ahmadinejad speaks at UN nuclear conference
• Iran and the nuclear issue

China’s approach to helping Africa

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China is investing heavily in Africa. While many African welcome the capital and know-how, others fear that China is stepping in with heavy boots. Matthew Brunwasser reports from Nairobi, Kenya. Download MP3

• BBC interview with China’s top diplomat in Africa

Kreyol rap in Haiti

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Haiti is the birthplace of many musical genres: accordion-led troubadou, Vodun racine, high-energy rara, and so on. Many Haitians would argue that rap does not belong on this list. Then rap kreyol hit the scene a few years ago. Like everything else in Haiti, it was hit hard by the January earthquake. Some of its rising stars were killed. But, as Amy Bracken reports from Port-au-Prince, the music’s very much alive. Download MP3

• Reporter’s Notebook: Return to Haiti
• MySpace: Jimmy O
• MySpace: Sak Pase Records
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Stories of translating, renaming and counting

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Translators are proving their worth twice in this week’s World in Words podcast: in New York, they’re helping elderly Russian speakers fill out their census forms; in Louisiana and Mississippi they’re interpreting for Vietnamese-American fishermen whose livelihoods are threatened by the big oil spill. Also, which tastes better: Silverfin, Kentucky tuna or Asian carp? Plus, a conversation about counting: some languages are more numerate than others.Download MP3

The export of mental illness concepts

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Author Ethan Watters argues that America has exported its ideas of mental health, and mental illness, sometimes to the detriment of other countries. In his book Crazy Like Us, he contends that mental disorders have a strong cultural component that is often ignored by Western psychiatrists. Marco Werman talks with Watters and you can share your ideas about this topic with Watters in our Science Forum. Download MP3

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• World Science Forum
• Science podcast
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• Book info

Developing Iraq’s oil industry

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Oil revenue could help Iraq recover from years of war, sanctions, and neglect. But Iraq’s oil industry is in sorry shape. So the government has been signing agreements with international companies. Anchor Marco Werman discusses Iraq’s oil industry with Juan Cole, professor of Modern Middle East and South Asian History at the University of Michigan.

Arab-American crowned Miss USA

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The new Miss USA is an Arab American. She was born in Lebanon and grew up in the US. Anchor Marco Werman gets reaction from Laila al-Husinni, a host on the US-Arab Radio Network.

Community’s response to mental illness

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In New York’s West African immigrant communities, friends and families take it upon themselves to deal with an individual who shows signs of mental illness. Rather than encouraging the patient to see a doctor or therapist, the community pools its money to buy plane fare and pressures the person to return to Africa. Some say this is a compassionate response, but others say it is driven by shame and does not serve the best interest of the sick individual. Laura Starecheski reports from New York. Download MP3

Geo Quiz

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Our daily geography puzzler.

Ash cloud update

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Anchor Marco Werman has an update on the ash cloud from the volcano in Iceland, which continues to disrupt travel in parts of Europe.

Geo answer

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The answer to our Geo Quiz today is Malaysia. Government censors in Malaysia recently revised their rules regarding what subjects can and cannot be depicted in films in the mostly Muslim, and mostly conservative nation. One movie maker is testing the new limits with a gay-themed film. Jennifer Pak reports from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

“In a Bottle”

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The problem of the one and the many figures in today’s Geo Quiz. The South East Asian country we’d like you to conjure up today is one federation made up of many states and territories, 13 at last count. Download MP3