Mexican farmers battle erosion and drought

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Hillside farmers in Oaxaca, Mexico, are experimenting with low-tech, traditional methods to stem erosion and retain water. The efforts are a response to increasing floods and landslides, like those caused by a series of late-summer storms in the region. Shannon Young reports. (Photo: Shannon Young) Download MP3

Tijuana’s dance protest

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Tijuana has been plagued by drug-related murders and kidnappings but then things were calming down in the Mexican city. Then the violence started up again and now some in Tijuana want to show the rest of the world their city is more than a murder capital. They hope to demonstrate that on Thursday with a mass street performance on both sides of the border. It’s called Pa Bailar, or To Dance, Tijuana. Ruxandra Guidi of KPBS has the story. Download MP3

Lost songs of Louisiana

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Misery caused by the BP oil spill could inspire a song. In fact, some Spanish-speaking fishermen or Isleños in Louisiana have a centuries-old songwriting tradition. Their ancestors brought it from the Canary Islands. It’s an unusual ten-line song form called decima. But the songs, like the fishing, are becoming part of history. Bruce Wallace has more. (flickr image: Alysha Jordan) Download MP3 >>>LISTEN: Hear stories of drinking and bug-exterminating

Pentagon pursues flying Humvee

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France and the Britain may be wrestling with the issue of what they can and can’t afford. And here in the US, government spending is at the heart of many political debates, ahead of the upcoming Congressional elections. But over at the Pentagon there’s still room in the budget for a $9 million program to develop a flying humvee. Anchor Lisa Mullins speaks with Bill Hennigan is the aerospace writer for the Los Angeles Times. Download MP3

Calm countryside amid strikes in France

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Protests continued today in France against the government’s plans to raise the minimum retirement age. But the demonstrations aren’t hitting all areas of the country. Anchor Lisa Mullins speaks with the owners of a bakery in the rural village of L’Isle Sur La Sorgue in southern France, about the mood there.

New design for New York taxis

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The World’s Alex Gallafent reports on a design competition in New York City that’s in search of the next new look for the city’s iconic yellow taxis.

Remembering the inventor of fractal geometry

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Mathematician Benoit Mandelbrot died last week at the age of 85. He was the inventor of fractal geometry. Anchor Lisa Mullins speaks with Peter Tyson, editor in chief of NOVA Online, about Mandelbrot’s legacy. Download MP3

• More about Benoit Mandelbrot from NOVA

A moon called Phobos

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Limtoc and Flimnap are your first clues for this Geo Quiz. Those are names of places on Phobos, a moon orbiting another planet in our solar system. Question is: which planet? Download MP3

Italy’s pine nut pest

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An insect from North America is wreaking havoc on Italy’s pine nut harvest, and a tiny wasp may be able to help. Megan Williams reports from Tuscany.

K T Tunstall

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Musicians find their muses in lots of different places. Take singer and songwriter K T Tunstall. She cut her teeth at open mics in the pubs of Edinburgh and London. But now Tunstall is looking well past the bar. The World’s Marco Werman has more. Download MP3

• K T Tunstall homepage
• Video: Suddenly I see
• Global Hit on Facebook

Entire program – October 19, 2010

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Today on The World: Britain announces major cuts to its military budget; we ask whether similar cuts are in store for the Pentagon. Then, Mexican authorities bust a major marijuana operation in Tijuana, at least 105 TONS of pot are seized; And later, the aftermath of the Gulf disaster brings scientists from the US and Cuba together for the first time in decades.

Britain’s military future

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The British government is making the biggest cuts to its military since the end of the cold war. Thousands are losing their jobs. Ships, fighter planes and tanks are being scrapped. It’s all causing concern in Washington, where Britain is seen as a key ally. So it’s no surprise Prime Minister Cameron is making a point of saying that the nation will remain a military power, despite the cuts. Laura Lynch reports from London. (Photo of Harrier jump jet: Jonathan Hamlet) Download MP3

Fighting around Kandahar

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Operations around the southern Afghan city of Kandahar have stepped up a notch recently. The fighting has escalated without a great deal of fanfare but a lot of firepower has been deployed and international forces say they are killing a lot of bad guys.The World’s Ben Gilbert is at an outpost in Zari district from Kandahar City. Download MP3
>>>Ben Gilbert’s stories on The World

Mexico forces seize huge marijuana haul

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Mexican security forces have seized 105 tons of marijuana in the border city of Tijuana. The haul, which was intended for the US, is estimated to have a street value of about $ 340 million. Host Lisa Mullins talks to KPBS border reporter Amy Isackson. Download MP3

Fake Money exhibit

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Government officials routinely deal with the issue of counterfeiting. Despite common wisdom, making phoney money may be the world’s oldest profession – or at least one of them. The World’s Gerry Hadden visited the Fake Money exhibit at the National Museum of Art in Catalonia. Download MP3
Video: Watch a confession of a former counterfeiter