Obama at the U.N.

President Obama makes his first speech to the United Nations General Assembly, calling for more global cooperation and partnership on issues such as nuclear weapons, global warming and economic stability. We speak with Jonathan Weisman, White House correspondent for the Wall Street Journal.

Bankers’ Pay and Bank Regulation

It’s high on the agenda at this week’s meeting of leaders from the world’s 20 largest economies. Britain and the U.S. have been arguing against pay caps, while countries like France are in favor. Other issues on the table include how much capital banks should be required to keep on hand, and whether developing countries will get greater say in running institutions like the World Bank and the IMF. We’ll speak with Christine Harper, Chief Financial Correspondent for Bloomberg News.

G-20 Haiku

We harvest leaflets
Blown like autumn leaves: our hopes
Speak truth to power

That’s the winning haiku in the Pittsburgh Filmmakers G-20 haiku poetry contest, written by our guest, poet and Pittsburgh resident Angele Ellis. Her haiku will be displayed on a theater marquee in sight of leaders of the world’s top 20 economies meeting in Pittsburgh tomorrow and Friday.http://www.pghfilmmakers.org/haiku.html

The Wizard of Oz Turns 70

Today, 440 movie theaters across the country are celebrating the Wizard of Oz’s 70th Anniversary by screening a new high-definition version of the film. Robert Osborne, host of Turner Classic Movies and a film historian, created a special introduction to the screening, and talks to us about what it is like to see the beloved classic back on the big screen in its new high-def form.

‘The MIT of the Middle East’ Opens

Ceremonies are underway in Saudi Arabia today to unveil what’s being billed as the “M.I.T. of the Middle East.” We talk with Sandra Upson, a reporter for IEEE Spectrum magazine who is covering the opening of the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology or KAUST. The school will be the world’s sixth largest university and a secular haven in a decidedly non-secular nation.

Shooting Beauty

[Youtube.com]

What happens when a fashion photographer jerry-rigs cameras so that people with severe physical disabilities can take photographs? Filmmaker George Kachadorian and our guest, photographer Courtney Bent sought to find out, and their resulting documentary is called “Shooting Beauty.”

See photos of the photographers

Music from the show

Peter Dixon, “Nagog Woods”
Calexico, “Crumble”
Paul Simon, “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover”
Herbie Hancock, “Watermelon Man”
Judy Garland, “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”
Christian McBride, “Theme for Kareem”
Kar Kar Madison, “Boubacar Traore”
Steve Earle, “Transcendental Blues”
Moby, “Myopia”

http://www.stavros.org Martina Carroll

Re: Shooting Beauty

I loved this story. I am a person with a disability and work as the Systems Advocate at Stavros Center for Independent Living. We work with anyone with a disability facing any barrier to independence. As Systems Advocate, I deal with local, state and federal disability policy issues. Right now we are doing some PhotoVoice projects to provide direct input to state policy makers about quality of long term care supports and services.

Ms Gross, I have been listening to you forever and have a lot of respect for your work. So PLEASE stop using phrases like “confined to a wheelchair.” You used this phrase after speaking about some poor guy stuck in a room his whole life until a wheelchair was made for him. The point is that his wheelchair BROKE his confinement.

The site of this interview (or at least some of the clips) seems to be a live-in center for people with CP. I thought most of those places were closed down, but I guess not yet. As far as I know, here in MA we are finally about to shut down 4 of the 6 remaining state institutions used to incarcerate people with disabilities for the crime of having a severe disability. How about doing a story on folks living in the community. transitioning people of all ages out of nursing homes and institutions is some of the most important work we do here at Stavros (www.stavros.org)
PAUL THEWMEN

Blame the Victim.

In your story, “Soldier’s Suicide Leaves Father Looking for Answers,” Robin Young, interviews Shane Wilhem, father of the late Army Private Keiffer Wilhem, first extending condolences but later slams the door perhaps due to ignorance or simply indifference.

Ms. Young asks Mr. Wilhem what his 19 year old son’s death certificate lists as the cause. The father states, “pending.” Ms. Young acknowledges, “yet to be determined.” However, in the end Ms. Young continues, erroneously, restating Keiffer Wilhem committed suicide, conclusions submitted as a cover-up prior to the whistleblower’s call for justice.

Army Private Keiffer Wilhelm cause of death is suicide, and Army Private Keiffer Wilhelm is guilty of committing such offense. Such hyperbole absolves the military superiors’ alleged, hazing behavior. Letting the perpetrators go free resting all blame on the bereaved and their lost son/victim. Every day one hears another “suicide bomber” attacking innocent civilians in a community market. Confusing religious fanatics with Army Private Keiffer Wilhelm is easy after hearing of another suicide bomber attack. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth.

Such hyperbole muddies the waters and does a dis-service to the bereaved father. Hopefully after the military trials convene a more balance approach is taken.