2:00 PM PST, Friday
Covering the movements, the issues, and the people fighting for some of the most important social justice issues of our time. Hosted by Amy Gastelum, Salima Hamirani, Anita Jonhson, and Lucy Kang.
Entry Denied: Former Prisoners Re-entering Society The prison population in the United States is rising. So are the numbers of people exiting prison and trying to piece their lives back together. In fact, three million people will be released from prison over the next five years. On this Prison Desk edition of Making Contact, we’ll … Continued
ElectionWatch ’04: All the News That’s Fit to Buy What we learn through the news media shapes how we choose our elected officials. In a democracy, we expect the media to serve the public interest. On this edition, we’ll take a look at how media companies have failed the public interest by influencing the political … Continued
ElectionWatch ’04: Progressive Strategies Bigger, Faster, More Powerful. That’s not a marketing slogan for the latest sport utility vehicle – rather, it’s what some activists say the progressive movement needs to become in order to win the November elections. On this edition, we’ll hear from three such activists: Reverend James Forbes, senior minister of the … Continued
Queer Youth Identities Young people today are embracing a wide range of terms to describe their sexuality: straight, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, two-spirit, questioning pansexual, down low, along with reclaiming formerly pejorative terms like dyke and queer. They are changing the way that society thinks about sexual orientation and gender identity. On this edition of … Continued
The electronics industry has brought us gadgets galore, from mobile phones that take pictures to the computer we use to edit this radio show. But there’s also a dark secret: the electronics industry is one of the world’s dirtiest; its growing legacy includes poisoned workers and mountains of toxic waste. On this week’s edition we … Continued
CAFTA: The Cost of Free Trade Frequently compared to the decade-old North American Free Trade Agreement, the new Central American Free Trade Agreement, or CAFTA, extends many of the same economic policies as far south as Costa Rica. Critics of CAFTA say NAFTA is responsible for high unemployment, a growing gap between the rich and … Continued
ElectionWatch ’04: "War on Terror" After September 11th, 2001 the Bush administration created controversial policy at home and abroad in the name of homeland security. Increased surveillance, security searches, and military intervention in the Middle East have changed life in the United States. Many Arab, South Asian, and Muslim Americans have experienced an even greater … Continued
Working Democracy: Participatory Movements in Latin America As many Latin American countries are moving away from longstanding dictatorships, they still face the challenges of poverty. Structural adjustments imposed by the International Monetary Fund and increased privatization of resources characterize the region’s economic policies. In response, peace and social justice groups challenge these policies by implementing … Continued
ElectionWatch ’04: "Hip Hop and Elections" Ever since it emerged off the streets of The Bronx in the mid-1970’s, hip hop has had a significant and growing influence on popular culture. But what influence will hip hop culture have in the 2004 elections? On this ElectionWatch ’04 edition of Making Contact we take a look … Continued
Refugees of Development:India and Multinationals With the country’s 1991 economic reform package, India significantly reduced trade barriers, moving away from a model of self-sufficiency. The World Trade Organization and the International Monetary Fund have loaned India money to promote economic growth. Anti-corporate globalization activists warn that this trend towards liberalization has given multi-national corporations, like … Continued
