10/31/2012
PRI’s The World: 10/31/2012 (Sandy, Haiti, Egypt)
Superstorm Sandy hit Haitian communities hard — both on the island, and later in New York. We’ll get the details from both places. Also, a scandal in Japan over how post-tsunami reconstruction funds have been used. And, the politics of heavy metal music in Egypt.
Haitians in New York Struggle to Recover From Sandy
Among those struggling to recover from the devastation of Superstorm Sandy are members of the Haitian community in New York. Anchor Lisa Mullins speaks with Ricot Dupuy, who hosts a program on a Haitian radio station in Brooklyn.
Haiti Still Reeling from Sandy’s Punch
Hurricane Sandy had its start in the Caribbean, where it unleashed a head-on hit on Jamaica and Cuban, and then drenched Haiti in more than 20 inches of rain, devastating the south of the country. Cate Oswald, director of programs in Haiti for Partners in Health, offers details from Port-au-Prince.
Tsunami Reconstruction Scandal in Japan
As the US begins its recovery from Superstorm Sandy, Japan is gripped by a scandal over the money set aside for reconstruction from the earthquake and tsunami that devastated parts of that country last year. Much of the allocated funds have been diverted into pork-barrel projects, far away from the disaster zone. Anchor Lisa Mullins gets the details from Hiroko Tabuchi of The New York Times.
Packaging You Can Eat
Have you ever eaten a cocktail? Held a mouthful of juice in your hand? A team of chefs, chemists, and designers has come up with a way for you to do just that. They’ve created a biodegradable shell that can enclose ice cream, mousses, cheeses, and liquids. Ari Daniel Shapiro of our partner program NOVA reports.
Sandy Brings Ashore Rare Birds
Hurricane Sandy brought with her a range of birds from distant places, giving American bird watchers a chance to see species they might have never encountered otherwise. Andrew Harnsworth of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology talks to Lisa Mullins about some of the rare species that are being spotted in and around New York.
Epic Journey to the New York City Marathon
New York City’s marathon is scheduled for Sunday but flying in runners from out of town will be tricky.Thousands of amateur runners are registered to run this weekend but many are struggling to get to New York. We hear from three international runners – Runar Gundedrsen in Norway, Dusan Murco in Czech Republic, and Kari Knebel in Germany.
Patient ‘Imprisoned’ at Kinshasa Hospital
In many African hospitals, patients must settle their bills before they’re released. That means if patients can’t pay, they end up stuck in the hospital — sometimes for weeks — until a family member bails them out. Cindy Shiner of AllAfrica.com recently met one such patient at a hospital in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
President Obama Helping Undocumented Stay in US, But Offering No Healthcare Assistance
Mitt Romney has a two-fold challenge with many Latino voters: try to convince them that he can fix America’s broken immigration system, and that President Obama has failed them. There are plenty of areas Romney can point to illustrate this, including lack of health care for undocumented immigrants. But Romney runs a risk calling attention to this.
Medieval Feasting Hall Discovered Under English Village Green
Archaeologists have discovered remnants of a 1,300-year-old Anglo Saxon feasting hall just inches below a village green in the south-eastern corner of England. The team found evidence that suggests elite Anglo Saxons gathered there to enjoy food and drink in what’s described as “a pretty lively gathering probably fueled by lots of meade (& wine) probably drunk from colorful and prestigious glass vessels.”
Heavy Metal in Post-Mubarak Egypt
Heavy metal musicians and fans have it rough in Egypt. They’re viewed with suspicion and skepticism by many Egyptians. Now Egypt’s metal heads wonder where they stand in the new Egypt, as Noel King reports from Cairo.
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