Making Contact

Making Contact – May 14, 2004

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


Making Contact

Making Contact – May 7, 2004

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


Making Contact

Making Contact – April 30, 2004

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


Making Contact

Making Contact – April 23, 2004

Deadly Extractions: Oil and Mining Interests in Africa When President Bush made a one-week tour of the African continent in early July 2003, the U.S. public heard a lot about human suffering and conflict there. The tragic AIDS epidemic and the toll of bloody wars are critical issues that should be examined in-depth. Yet, one … Continued


Making Contact

Making Contact – April 16, 2004

Courage Under Fire: Resistance to War Resistance to the status quo is a common theme among social, political, and environmental movements. But resistance during war can increase the stakes, sometimes with dire consequences. On this edition of Making Contact, we’ll take a look at resistance in Rwanda during the nationwide call for genocide in 1994, … Continued


Making Contact

Making Contact – April 9, 2004

ElectionWatch ‘04: Taxonomics:Federal Tax Cutsand the Budget Deficit During his Presidential bid in 2000, then-Governor George W. Bush said tax cuts would help those at the bottom end of the economic ladder. During his 4 years of Presidency, however, it is the wealthy who have benefited the most from those tax breaks. Meanwhile, in the … Continued


Making Contact

Making Contact – April 2, 2004

Building Walls: Life in the Palestinian Territories" Since the lines were drawn over 50 years ago, the borders of Israel have been intensely contested. With the construction of a wall in the Palestinian territories, a new border is being created. The Israeli government says they are building the wall for security reasons, but many Palestinians … Continued


Making Contact

Making Contact – March 26, 2004

Trouble at Sea: The State of the World’s Oceans (Encore Edition) While seemingly indestructible, the ocean is a fragile eco-system. It’s increasingly under threat from over- fishing, coastal development, and pollution. On this edition of Making Contact, we’ll take a look at the over-all health of the ocean today, along with a close-up of the … Continued


Making Contact

Making Contact – March 19, 2004

Patagonian Winds of Resistance In the midst of a shattered economy in Argentina, US-based Meridian Gold acquired a gold deposit in Patagonia worth an estimated one billion dollars. This mining project, however, could damage the natural environment and the local community’s way of life. On this edition of Making Contact Pauline Bartolone traveled to the … Continued


Making Contact

Making Contact – March 12, 2004

War Against Women, Women Against War: A Report Back From the World Social Forum Violence against women manifests in both overt and covert forms: from rape used as a war tactic to women themselves participating in violence. On this edition of Making Contact, we feature three leading feminists: Egyptian sociologist Nawal El Saadawi, activist and … Continued