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 GoodThings on Public Radio May 30, 2002 We want to hear from you. What's the best public radio story or show you heard this past week? Share. If you want to listen, you'll need RealPlayer on your computer. (If you don't already have it, it's a FREE download.) Visit Real Networks. FRIDAY, May 24 | Democratic Radio Feel like you're hearing the same thing over and over again on your local radio stations or, worse, the same thing on every radio station near you? It may be the result of what passionate advocates for locally based independent radio refer to as "consolidation." Increasingly, the public airwaves, once a diverse mix of sounds, voices, and programming, are controlled by large corporate conglomerates like Clear Channel, which not only determine the music that gets played on the radio but also, ultimately, the songs that becomes hits and the performers who become stars. Proponents of independent radio say what's happened is undemocratic, suggesting what's needed would be analogous to the recent successful effort to enact campaign finance reform in the US. [Morning Edition] Listen (4:33). :: Learn more about supporting local music and radio stations from Just Plain Folks in Indianapolis and the Washington DC-based Future of Music Coalition. SATURDAY, May 25 | "One-Man Coup" When Vermont Senator Jim Jeffords left the US Republican Party one year ago and declared himself an independent, he created a political uproar. The Democratic Party gained majority status, and many of Jeffords' friends turned away from him. A year later, Jeffords reflects on the decision and says it all came down to education. Long a supporter of increased funding for public education, and particularly special education programs, Jeffords says he made his choice when his former political party stripped every penny for education from an appropriations bill he'd worked to strengthen. His independence has made it possible, he says, for moderates in the Senate to prevent such extremist actions from happening and to begin the gradual path toward progressive environmental and education policy. [Weekend All Things Considered] Listen (5:24). SUNDAY, May 26 | Nothing Like A Summer Book There's no time like the summer to catch up on reading. In a new regular series, National Public Radio will be speaking with famous authors to find out the books that are on their reading lists this summer. In this piece, NPR talks with David McCullough, author of last year's widely acclaimed biography of American revolutionary John Adams, about what's piquing his curiosity this summer. He's passionate about history and plans to take on Kenneth Roberts' novel, Arundel, set during the time of the American Revolution. He's also going to relish his share of mysteries and will likely introduce some of his grandchildren to his favorite children's book, Robert Lawson's Ben and Me. [Weekend All Things Considered] Listen (2:58). :: Keep up with David McCullough this summer and buy your own copy of Kenneth Roberts' historical novel Arundel. MONDAY, May 27 | Living in Peace Notorious, hulking mental hospitals and their horrific conditions are symbols of bygone eras in the US, but in Mexico, it's only through recent efforts that the mental health care system has moved toward reform. Thanks to one woman's personal commitment to improving the lives of the mentally ill, one asylum near Mexico City has been closed down and 15 others are next on her list. Virginia Gonzalez Torres became an advocate for the mentally ill after her own sister was diagnosed with manic-depression and is determined to help Mexico avoid the mistakes of the US that have left thousands and thousands of the mentally ill living desperate lives on the streets. She believes strongly in the need to provide supportive halfway houses for the mentally ill and has proven her willingness to educate often irate demonstrators who don't want such facilities in their own neighborhoods. She is achieving a balance many of her detractors thought was impossible. [All Things Considered] Listen (12:30). :: Learn more about the current Mexican effort to improve mental health care. TUESDAY, May 28 | A Stake in Human Rights In an extraordinary move, the human rights organization Amnesty International has purchased shares in the petroleum giant Exxon-Mobil. The non-profit's strategy? To use its influence as a shareholder to introduce a resolution that would make human rights a core policy consideration for the multi-national company. Amnesty has long criticized the company's human rights record in countries throughout the world where it does business. In this piece, commentator Chip Pitts says Amnesty's approach will ultimately prove more effective because eventually, it will ensure that a culture of corporate social responsibility exists at Exxon-Mobil where it had not. It will force the company to address human rights issues progressively and proactively rather than continue avoiding the issues altogether or relying on massive public relations campaigns. [All Things Considered] Listen (3:15). :: Learn more about Amnesty International. WEDNESDAY, May 29 | Advancing Civilization Through Reading Each summer, the University of North Carolina is among the many colleges that request of their incoming first-year students that they read a selected text and be prepared to discuss it when classes begin. This year, a university committee has chosen a book called Approaching the Koran, which presents passages from Islam's most important text, as well as explanations and discussions of those passages. And while many support the University's contention that books like this one further the role of academia in broadening horizons, stimulating intellectual curiosity, and helping foster understanding among diverse cultures, some parents, conservative organizations, and civil-liberties advocates have been extremely critical of the choice. The university's chancellor says the debate is healthy and that no student will be required to read the book, but in the end, those who choose not to will miss our on an engaging opportunity. [Morning Edition] Listen (3:31). :: Learn more about the University of North Carolina's Summer Reading Program. THURSDAY, May 30 | Speaking of Culture For nearly 100 years after the kingdom of Hawaii was annexed to become a territory of the US, teaching the native Hawaiian language in schools was prohibited. Still, for years, small-scale grassroots efforts kept the language alive but threatened. Now, finally, the language is experiencing a rebirth, as many Hawaiian children are learning it as a first language at home and in comprehensive language immersion schools, while older Hawaiians are getting exposed to it in a formal way through institutionalized programs, like the one as the University of Hawaii-Hilo. Hawaii remains the only US state with two official languages, and native Hawaiians consider the preservation of the language to be essential to the survival of the rich musical and literary culture and traditions of the islands. [Morning Edition] Listen (6:56). :: More about the Hawaiian language. [ : previous week : ] WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU. Did we miss a good public radio story this week? Want to recommend one for next week? Share it with us! 
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