Archive for 2010
Reporter’s notebook: China’s coal future
No one needs to sell China on coal. It’s the stuff that fuels 70 percent of this country’s energy, and 80 percent of its electricity. And yet, at an international coal industry conference in Beijing this autumn, an American coal executive spoke with almost evangelical zeal.
China’s coal habit
China’s booming economy is powered mostly by coal. And the explosive growth in coal pollution is causing major problems both within China and for the planet. In a special four-part series on The World, Asia correspondent Mary Kay Magistad examines the impacts and some possible solutions to China’s addiction to dirty coal.
Download the entire series as a podcast:
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Download MP3Entire program – November 30, 2010
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Today on The World: How France’s Le Monde ended up involved in the WikiLeaks disclosure this week. Also, the high cost of China’s appetite for coal. Plus, we visit with Scottish singer-songwriter KT Tunstall. Download MP3
Le Monde and Wikileaks
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The Wikileaks hits just keep on coming. Disclosures from US diplomatic messages posted on the website reveal the behind-the-scenes conduct of international diplomacy. The latest disclosures suggest tension between China and North Korea. Other newly released cables concern the Obama administration’s effort to persuade countries to accept terrorism suspects from Guantanamo Bay. The documents were leaked to several major newspapers, including Le Monde. Marco Werman talks with Sylvie Kauffman, the Editor-in-Chief of the French paper. Download MP3
Intelligence sharing and the danger of leaks
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In the aftermath of September 11th, US spy services were reprimanded for failing to cross-reference their intelligence information. That led to the creation of the Secret Internet Protocol Router Network or SIPRnet. But this “secure” network has suffered one of the biggest information leaks. The World’s Clark Boyd reports. Download MP3The cost of coal in China
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Representatives for nearly 200 countries have gathered in Mexico to discuss ways to cut greenhouse gas pollution. One of the largest sources of this pollution is coal. Coal use continues to rise around the world, especially in China. The World’s Mary Kay Magistad explores the high cost of China’s appetite for coal. Download MP3Read Mary Kay’s journal about her visit to a coal mine
Training the Afghan armed forces
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The US strategy in Afghanistan includes a deadline: 2014. The Americans want to turn over security to Afghan forces by then. To do that, the US will have to train enough Afghan recruits to do the job. The World’s Ben Gilbert was recently embedded with US troops who are “partnered” with Afghan army units in Kandahar. Download MP3Ben Gilbert Afghanistan coverage on The World
Scottish singer-songwriter KT Tunstall
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Scottish singer-songwriter KT Tunstall stopped by recently. She performed in our studios and spoke to host Marco Werman. Download MP3Video: See KT Tunstall live in our studios
How Wikileaks could make it harder to declassify documents
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The release of documents via Wikileaks may create difficulties for groups trying to get the government to declassify documents. Peter Kornbluh, a senior analyst at the National Security Archive, tells anchor Marco Werman that anti-declassification sentiment is growing in Congress. Download MP3
Bidding for the World Cup
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Soccer’s governing body FIFA this week will select host countries for the men’s World Cup tournament in 2018 and 2022. The US is one of the bidders. Anchor Marco Werman speaks with The World’s William Troop about the selection process, and allegations that corruption is a big part of it.Download MP3
Russia’s World Cup hopes
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Russia and England are widely considered the front runners to host the 2018 World Cup championships. FIFA is expected to announce the winner Thursday. As Jessica Golloher reports from Moscow, the competition is heating up as Russia kicks soccer balls at England’s bid and English officials face corruption charges. Download MP3
Madonna’s fitness club
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Screaming fans greeted the popstar Madonna last night as she launched her first Hard Candy Fitness gym. It’s located in an upscale neighborhood called “Bosques de las Lomas” in the city we’re looking for in the Geo Quiz.Download MP3
Music Heard on Air for November 30, 2010
Tunes spun on The World between our reports for November 30, 2010. Artists featured are Ali Farka Toure, Ry Cooder, Outback, Alison Brown, Balafon Marimba Ensemble.
Reporter’s notebook: inside a Chinese coal mine
Going down a coal mine may not be at the top of your list of fun touristy things to do, but for anyone planning a trip to China, who can handle at least a day in one of China’s sootier cities, in exchange for an insight into how it feels down there in the dark, you could do a lot worse than the tour offered by the Jin Hua Gong coal mine, part of the Datong Coal Mine Group in Datong.
World Books Review: Of Spongy Minds and Award-Winning Books
Call it anarchistic boorishness, an artist chomping on the hand that feeds him. But at least in this book Thomas Bernhard is honest about why he welcomes awards — he wants the money, especially because the amounts, given European largess to its culture-makers, are considerable.
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