TO THE BEST OF OUR KNOWLEDGE
from Wisconsin Public Radio
November 24, 1996 Programs
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1100 - 1159 Hour #1 Clash of Cultures
1200 - 1259 Hour #2 Extinction
1300 - 1359 Hour #3 Real Bodies
PROGRAM RUNDOWN Hour 1:Clash of Cultures
SEGMENT 1:
Rutgers political scientist Benjamin Barber sees two
cultural trends in the contemporary world -- "jihad" or
parochial fundamentalism and "McWorld" or global consumer
capitalism. Barber tells Jim Fleming that these forces
are in opposition to each other, but also need each
other, and both undermine democracy. Barber's latest
book is "Jihad vs. McWorld." Also, former State
Department analyst Francis Fukuyama tells Steve Paulson
that social trust is the hidden virtue in successful
societies. Fukuyama's new book is "Trust: The Social
Virtues and the Creation of Prosperity."
SEGMENT 2:
Mexican novelist and social critic Carlos Fuentes talks
with Steve Paulson about the rifts in Mexican-American
relations which, he says, can be attributed to
contrasting national myths - Mexico's obsession with its
tragic past and America's belief in its own innocence.
Fuentes' latest novel is "Diana: The Goddess Who Hunts
Alone."
SEGMENT 3:
Writer and filmmaker Ginu Kamani (gee' new kah mah' nee)
has lived the clash of cultures. She was born in India
but came to the United States as a teenager. She tells
Judith Strasser about the "junglee girls" of India -
women who've dared to break social convention.
For cassette copies of this hour, call 1-800-747-7444, and ask for program number
1-21-A.
PROGRAM RUNDOWN Hour 2:Extinction
SEGMENT 1:
Nature writer Diane Ackerman tells Steve Paulson that she
feels compelled to serve as a witness for endangered
species of animals. Among her books is "The Rarest of
the Rare: Vanishing Animals, Timeless Worlds." Also,
naturalist Richard Ives, talks with Steve Paulson about
tigers. There are only a few thousand left and they may
go extinct in the next decade. Ives studied tigers in
India, Nepal and Southeast Asia, and describes his work
in a book called "Of Tigers and Men."
SEGMENT 2:
Philosopher of science John Leslie tells Jim Fleming why
he believes there's a forty percent chance human beings
will go extinct within the next 500 years. Leslie teaches
at the University of Guelph in Ontario and is the author
of "The End of the World: The Science and Ethics of Human
Extinction."
SEGMENT 3:
Paleontologist Robert Bakker, dinosaur curator of the
Tate Museum in Wyoming, has turned novelist. "Raptor
Red" tells its story from the point of view of a Utah
raptor. Bakker tells Judith Strasser that he can't help
wondering about the emotional lives of the creatures
whose fossils he excavates.
For cassette copies of this hour, call 1-800-747-7444, and ask for program number
5-5-B.
PROGRAM RUNDOWN: HOUR 3: Real Bodies
SEGMENT 1
Psychologist and teacher Cheri Erdman tells Steve Paulson
why we should strive to be healthy, not thin. She's fat,
fit, happy and successful, and the author of "Nothing to
Lose: A Guide to Sane Living in a Larger Body." On the
other hand, Stephen Gullo tells Steve that thin is
better, whatever the cost -- and his help costs plenty.
Gullo is a psychologist and weight loss coach for the
wealthy. His book is "Thin Tastes Better."
SEGMENT 2:
Jounalist Barbara Ehrenreich tells Judith Strasser about
the dark side of the American quest for physical
perfection -- intolerance of the ugly, overweight or
disabled. Ehrenreich's latest book of essays is "The
Snarling Citizen." Also, vocational counselor Dan
Eckert, (a former jock who now uses a power wheelchair as
a result of a spinal cord injury) tells Jim Fleming how
changing attitudes and modern technology have increased
the range of options for people with physical
disabilities.
SEGMENT 3:
Abigail Padgett has written a series of mystery novels
featuring a heroine with manic depressive illness. She
tells Judith Strasser that she created the character of
Bo Bradley in part to educate people about bi-polar
disorder, and describes how the illness both helps and
hinders her heroine.
For cassette copies of this hour, call 1-800-747-7444, and ask for program number
1-14-C.
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Last modified: Tuesday November 19, 1996