Lopate - Underreported

Turning the Tide (The Leonard Lopate Show: Thursday, 19 November 2009)

listenerservices@wnyc.org (WNYC, New York Public Radio) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:51 GMT

Sigourney Weaver and Lisa Suatoni, senior scientist for the Natural Resources Defense Council, talk about the troubling rise in ocean acidity and a new film they’ve produced on the subject. Then, historian Eugene Rogan takes us through the last five centuries of Arab History—from the Ottoman Empire to today. Also, photographer Ethan Russell tells us what it was like to be on the Rolling Stones' 1969 "Let it Bleed" tour. Plus, our latest Underreported segments.

Underreported: Yemen's Civil War (The Leonard Lopate Show: Thursday, 19 November 2009)

listenerservices@wnyc.org (WNYC, New York Public Radio) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:49 GMT

On today’s second Underreported we’ll look at the civil war in Yemen and accusations that Iran is waging a proxy against Saudi Arabia by supporting the rebels. We’ll be joined by freelance journalist Ginny Hill.

Underreported: China's Gulag Prison System (The Leonard Lopate Show: Thursday, 19 November 2009)

listenerservices@wnyc.org (WNYC, New York Public Radio) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:00 GMT

President Obama was in China this week and he did speak out on the country’s human rights record. On today’s first Underreported segment, we’re taking a look at China’s expansive prison system, formerly called Laogai. We’ll examine how it was modeled after the Soviet gulag system and the accusations that forced labor is used in the camps. We’ll speak with Harry Wu, founder of the Laogai Research Foundation and Nicole Kempton, who edited the foundation’s book Laogai: The Machinery of Repression in China.

From Running a Museum to Running from E-Mail (The Leonard Lopate Show: Thursday, 12 November 2009)

listenerservices@wnyc.org (WNYC, New York Public Radio) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:00 GMT

Philippe de Montebello, now the Director Emeritus of the Metropolitan Museum of Art after heading it for 31 years, talks about his time at the museum. Granta editor John Freeman explains The Tyranny of E-mail. Also, Michelle Huneven discusses her latest novel, Blame. Plus, our latest Underreported segments.

Underreported: India's Maoist Insurgency (The Leonard Lopate Show: Thursday, 12 November 2009)

listenerservices@wnyc.org (WNYC, New York Public Radio) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:25 GMT

A group of Maoist rebels—also known as the Naxalite insurgency—has taken a violent foothold in 20 of India’s provinces. The group has burned schools, killed more than 900 security officers, and, in at least one province, detonated more than 1,000 improvised explosive devices over the past five years. The Indian government is preparing to send thousands of soldiers into the Maoists strongholds, which also happen to be some of the most impoverished and economically underdeveloped parts of India. We’ll speak with Brad Adams, Executive Director of Human Rights Watch’s Asia Division, in India.

You can read a report a report HRW wrote on the Naxalites here.

Remaking the World (The Leonard Lopate Show: Thursday, 05 November 2009)

listenerservices@wnyc.org (WNYC, New York Public Radio) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:00 GMT

Ken Auletta examines the rise of Google and how it has turned the world of traditional media on its head. Then, we take a look at the life and writings of Ayn Rand. And Los Angeles Times film critic Kenneth Turan talks about the theatrical legacy of Joe Papp. Plus, our latest Underreported segment looks at how foreign governments use lobbying firms in Washington D.C. to get what they want.

Come see Andre Agassi on The Leonard Lopate Show live in the Greene Space on November 11! Get tickets here!

Underreported: Foreign Countries and Lobbying (The Leonard Lopate Show: Thursday, 05 November 2009)

listenerservices@wnyc.org (WNYC, New York Public Radio) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:41 GMT

Countries such as Honduras and Sudan have come under fire recently for hiring PR and lobbying firms to make the case for them to American lawmakers. We’ll speak with Ken Silverstein, Washington Editor for Harper’s magazine about how foreign governments use lobbying firms in Washington D.C. to advance their agenda.

You can read Ken's article "Their Men in Washington" from 2007 here.

Underreported: Algae as a Weapon of Mass Extinction (The Leonard Lopate Show: Thursday, 29 October 2009)

listenerservices@wnyc.org (WNYC, New York Public Radio) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:04 GMT

Over the past decade many species of algae have expanded their range toward the poles and into areas where they previously have not been found and many speculate that global warming is to blame. New research into the fossil record is linking the toxins produced by algal blooms to numerous mass extinctions in our planet’s history. On today’s first Underreported we’ll speak to Professor Jim Castle and Professor John Rodgers, both of Clemson University, authors of a paper on mass extinctions and algae.

Underreported: Algae's Biofuel Potential (The Leonard Lopate Show: Thursday, 29 October 2009)

listenerservices@wnyc.org (WNYC, New York Public Radio) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 05:00 GMT

Many scientists are hoping that algae could provide the basis of a biofuel. On today’s second Underreported, Dr. Anastasios Melis, Professor of Biology at University of California, Berkeley, explains why algae have so much potential for becoming a source of biofuel and the hurdles that remain for making it a viable alternative.

Underreported: Gene Patenting (The Leonard Lopate Show: Thursday, 22 October 2009)

listenerservices@wnyc.org (WNYC, New York Public Radio) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 05:00 GMT

Twenty percent of the human genome has been patented by biotechnology companies, universities, and research institutions. The patenting of two genes associated with breast and ovarian cancer is also the subject of a lawsuit filed by the ACLU and the Public Patent Foundation against Myriad Genetics, a company that offers diagnostic tests for the genes. On today’s Underreported segment we’ll look at the controversial practice of gene patenting and the serious ethical, medical, and public policy questions it raises. We’ll be joined by Dr. David Koepsell, a philosopher, attorney, and Assistant Professor at the Technology University of Delft in the Netherlands. His book is called Who Owns You? The Corporate Gold Rush to Patent Your Genes.

Soft Landings (The Leonard Lopate Show: Thursday, 15 October 2009)

listenerservices@wnyc.org (WNYC, New York Public Radio) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 05:00 GMT

On today’s show, Captain Chesley Sullenberger fills us in on the details of how he – and his crew – landed US Airways Flight 1549 safely in the middle of the Hudson River in January. And, our latest Underreported segment looks at the 25 most important stories from the past year…that you haven’t heard about.

The deadline to submit an essay for our transit stories contest has passed! Thank you to everyone who sent in commuting stories!

Underreported: Censored 2010 (The Leonard Lopate Show: Thursday, 15 October 2009)

listenerservices@wnyc.org (WNYC, New York Public Radio) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:03 GMT

On this week’s Underreported, we look at 25 important stories you’ve never heard of – including articles about nuclear waste pools in North Carolina and Ecuador becoming the first country to grant human rights to nature. Mickey Huff, the co-editor of Censored 2010, tells us about this year’s best underreported stories. Find out more about Project Censored here.

Underreported: Politicians and their PAC Money (The Leonard Lopate Show: Thursday, 08 October 2009)

listenerservices@wnyc.org (WNYC, New York Public Radio) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 15:36 GMT

Political Action Committees were established to enable politicians to raise money for their colleagues and support their campaigns. On this week’s Underreported, ProPublica reporter Marcus Stern explains how several law makers are now using their PAC money – from golf outings to casinos to commissioning portraits – and why the rules for PAC money aren’t tighter.

You can read his article that appeared in the Washington Post here.
Read the ProPublica article here.
You can look up information about your congressmember's leadership PAC here.

Underreported: The Golden Bubble? (The Leonard Lopate Show: Thursday, 08 October 2009)

listenerservices@wnyc.org (WNYC, New York Public Radio) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 05:00 GMT

The price of gold has been reaching record highs this week. On today’s second Underreported, Fortune’s Scott Cendrowski explains why investors are turning to gold and what that says about the global financial markets.

You can read his article on gold here.

Underreported: The Placebo Effect (The Leonard Lopate Show: Thursday, 01 October 2009)

listenerservices@wnyc.org (WNYC, New York Public Radio) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:10 GMT

"The placebo effect" has been known to scientists for a very long time. But for some reason, the placebo effect is getting stronger and researchers don’t know why. In fact, an increasing number of medications are unable to beat sugar pills in clinical trials. Steve Silberman, is a senior writer for Wired magazine and wrote about this subject in the August issue.

You can read his article here.

Underreported: Coal Ash Sites (The Leonard Lopate Show: Thursday, 01 October 2009)

listenerservices@wnyc.org (WNYC, New York Public Radio) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:31 GMT

There are almost 600 coal ash sites throughout the United States. On today’s first Underreported, Lisa Evans, Senior Administrative Counsel for Earthjustice, explains why these toxic leftovers are so dangerous, how they’re disposed of, and what the Environmental Protection Agency proposes to do about coal ash sites.

You can read Earthjustice's report on Coal Ash sites here.

Branding and the Meaning of Life (The Leonard Lopate Show: Thursday, 17 September 2009)

listenerservices@wnyc.org (WNYC, New York Public Radio) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 05:00 GMT

Advertising industry insider James P. Othmer takes a look at how branding influences our day-to-day lives. Pulitzer Prize-winner Tracy Kidder discusses his latest book, Strength in What Remains, about the experience of an immigrant from Burundi in the United States. Also, Paul Rudnick talks about his new collection of humorous essays. Plus, our latest Underreported segments look at the problem of "underbanking" and plans by France to include "happiness" in its GDP calculations.

Underreported: The New French GDP (The Leonard Lopate Show: Thursday, 17 September 2009)

listenerservices@wnyc.org (WNYC, New York Public Radio) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 18:16 GMT

Earlier this week French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced that his country would now be taking happiness and well-being into account when it calculates its Gross Domestic Product. Ben Hall Paris correspondent for the Financial Times explains how this change will affect France’s GDP and why the country is urging other nations to adopt its new formula.

Underreported: Underbanking (The Leonard Lopate Show: Thursday, 17 September 2009)

listenerservices@wnyc.org (WNYC, New York Public Radio) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 17:29 GMT

Over 100 million Americans are “underbanked”—meaning they either cannot access or choose not to use traditional financial services offered by mainstream banks. Instead, they turn to alternatives like check cashing services, prepaid cards, and payday loans. On today’s first Underreported Melissa Koide, deputy director of the Asset Building Program at the New America Foundation, explains this shadow banking system.

Underreported: Pirates vs. Private Security Firms (The Leonard Lopate Show: Thursday, 10 September 2009)

listenerservices@wnyc.org (WNYC, New York Public Radio) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 16:00 GMT

Private security firms are increasingly being used in the fight against pirates who operate off the coast of Africa. One company, Eos Risk Management, says it has fended off at least 15 attacks from Somali pirates since January. The practice of using security contractors to provide maritime defense "in appropriate circumstances" has even been endorsed by the US State Department. We’ll be joined by Jonathan Ledgard, the East Africa correspondent for the Economist magazine. His article "Piracy and Private Enterprise" appears in the August 20th Issue of the magazine.

Underreported: The Fight for the Independence Party (The Leonard Lopate Show: Thursday, 03 September 2009)

listenerservices@wnyc.org (WNYC, New York Public Radio) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 18:58 GMT

We talk to City Hall magazine reporter Sal Gentile about how the New York Independence Party is in turmoil at the state and local level as various interest groups vie for control of it and its important ballot line.

We spoke to Mr. Gentile about State Senator Pedro Espada’s early political career on Backstory on July 23, 2009. You can listen to that interview here.

The Mad and the Public (The Leonard Lopate Show: Thursday, 27 August 2009)

listenerservices@wnyc.org (WNYC, New York Public Radio) — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 17:26 GMT

Guest host Mike Pesca fills in for Leonard Lopate. Hear the story of the Gallo brothers—three gangsters who revolted against New York City’s Mafia. Then, Michael Rosen talks about how his son's game of pick-up baseball changed the lives of a group of neighborhood kids. And a new documentary about an Internet millionaire who takes voyeurism and surveillance to unheard-of levels. Plus, Underreported looks into the British government’s decision to seize control of a small island group in the Caribbean, and we’ll also get an update on electoral shenanigans in Gabon.

Underreported: Turks & Caicos (The Leonard Lopate Show: Thursday, 27 August 2009)

listenerservices@wnyc.org (WNYC, New York Public Radio) — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 18:40 GMT

Earlier this month, Britain imposed direct rule on the Caribbean islands of Turks & Caicos. On this week’s first Underreported, Mark Wilson, a correspondent for The Economist, explains what led to the unusual decision and why Britain decided that removing the prime minister, dissolving the parliament, and suspending the constitution was necessary to address the problems on the island.

You can read Mike Wilson’s article about Turks & Caicos here.

Underreported: Elections in Gabon (The Leonard Lopate Show: Thursday, 27 August 2009)

listenerservices@wnyc.org (WNYC, New York Public Radio) — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 18:40 GMT

President Omar Bongo of Gabon died this past June after four decades in office. Elections in the tiny African nation are slated for August 30th, but the vote is already mired in controversy. For our second Underreported, we’ll talk to Professor Douglas Yates, assistant professor of political science at the American University of Paris and a Gabon expert.

Underreported: The Facebook Empire (The Leonard Lopate Show: Thursday, 20 August 2009)

listenerservices@wnyc.org (WNYC, New York Public Radio) — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 18:41 GMT

Last week, Facebook quietly bought FriendFeed, a platform that keeps track of just about everything you do online. On this week’s second Underreported, Chadwick Matlin, staff reporter for Slate’s TheBigMoney.com, explains what the social networking site hopes to gain by buying FriendFeed.

Read Chadwick Matlin's article about the purchase of FriendFeed here, and his article on Facebook's new collaboration with the Huffington Post here.