Montana Public Health Emergency

The EPA is declaring a public health emergency in the towns of Libby and Troy, Montana, where asbestos contamination from a mine has sickened thousands of people and left more than 200 dead. We speak with Gayla Benefield, a Libby resident who has the lung condition, asbestosis; she has been campaigning for years for federal help.

Hear our earlier conversation on the Montana asbestos poisoning case

Food Inc.

Why do we know so little about what we eat every day? Robert Kenner is director and producer of the new film, “Food Inc.” From factory farms, genetically modified seeds, and meat production plants — Food Inc. attempts to show Americans the stories behind the food on their plates.

American Forces Leave Iraqi Cities

In just over two weeks, US combat troops will be off the streets of Iraqi cities. The home-grown security forces will take over sole responsibility for safety in some of the most dangerous areas of Iraq. BBC Correspondent Nicholas Witchell went on one of the last American foot patrols with the US 5th Cavalry in Baghdad to gauge reaction to the troop withdrawal.

Iranian Protests Confound Ruling Clerics

In this image issued by the government run Fars News Agency, supporters of pro-reform leader Mir Hossein Mousavi, attend a rally in Tehran, Iran, on Wednesday June, 17, 2009. (AP)

If Iran’s election was rigged, was it part of a power play by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to destabilize the country and oust the country’s ruling clerics? That’s one theory being discussed as protestors take to the streets of Tehran today in support of opposition candidate, Mir Hossein Mousavi. We speak to Babak Rahimi, a professor at UC-San Diego. He fled Iran in the 1980s after his father was assassinated, but returned this year to study the electoral process.

Letters

We hear from listeners after our recent remembrance of AIDS activist Thembi Ngubane, and our segment on Carl Sandburg’s Guitar.

See photo of Carl Sandburg and his guitar

Bartering

Here and Now’s Andrea Shea reports on a trend that is happening in the sour economy: bartering.

More hints on bartering

Music from the show

Ahmad Jamal, “Patterns”
Tito Puente, “Royal T”
The Lickets, “Serial East”
Ashley MacIsaac, “Sleepy Maggie”
The Lickets, “A Crowd of Pimps in the Rain”
Freddie Hubbard, “Little Sunflower”
Thomas “Fats” Waller, Harry Brooks and Andy Razaf, “Ain’t Misbehaving” performed by Ken Lelen

Krista Reichard

So do those taking advantage of bartering include the value of the items acquired as imputed income on their taxes? Earned income not monetized likely doesn’t make it into the books. While providing flexibility and a personally tailored approach to discounting is a “bartering” economy something to be encouraged as a solution? It would appear on the surface that setting up underground economies will only further exacerbate ailing state coffers struggling to provide social services working in the “real economy”.

It’s not a solution and will in the end only protract the pain of the current recession.
Jo

I loved your piece on Food Inc.!

I then followed your link to Monsanto’s rebuttle to your review. (YIKES!!) Words cannot adquately express my revulsion to this company and what it has done and even continues to do in their slick attempts to mislead people.

For example Monsanto states that Food Inc, “Demonizes American farmers….”

That sure was not how I viewed Food Inc. Rather then demonizing the American Farmer, Food Inc correctly portrays farmers AND consumers as victims of powerful multinational corporations — especially Monsanto. By stating what they did, Monsanto is attempting to mislead people into thinking that Food Inc was attacking Farmers — but in fact for the astute viewer, they know darn well that was not the message.

But what I really found frightening on Monsanto’s page, was their assertion that all proceeds from Lawsuits they win related to infringement of their patents (BTW — the facts do NOT support their claim that they only file suits against farmers plant improperly plant their seed…what about all the farmers featured in “The Future of Food” who had Monsanto seed fall off a truck driving by and ruin their specially bred canola seed — and THEN had Monsanto sue them on top of that?) is donated to youth education. Yeh right — what they are really saying is that they use that money to brainwash a new generation of young people to view the world the way that will best benefit Monsantos bottom line….
Ann

I love the barter system and wish I had the opportunity to use it more often. I’m a house painter and have worked for food (painting a produce stand), scaffolding and a paved patio. Of course, I only barter with people I know and trust. I disagree that it will damage the “real” economy for the simple fact that very few people can get everything they need simply by bartering. And what’s wrong with bartering for something you couldn’t afford to buy?