India and China, Voice of America, Food Crisis

Boundary Dispute Between India and China Escalates to Violence (0:33) Guest: Eric Hyer, Associate Professor, Political Science, Brigham Young University, Author of “The Pragmatic Dragon: China’s Grand Strategy and Boundary Settlements”  China and India – the world’s two most populous countries, both of them with nuclear weapons – are in a tense standoff along the border they share. A week ago, fighting broke out between Chinese and Indian soldiers. This was reportedly hand-to-hand combat with rocks, metal rods and wooden clubs. Twenty Indian soldiers died. China has not said how many casualties it suffered. This is the first time their border dispute has turned deadly in forty years. The Pandemic Compromises Workers’ Safety, but Democratizing Work Could Protect Them (16:12) Guest: Hélène Landemore, Associate Professor of Political Science, Yale University, Author of “Open Democracy” Throughout the pandemic, “essential workers,” including nurses, grocery clerks and delivery drivers, have had little choice but to keep working, regardless the risk. Some have received bonuses. Some have lost their jobs because they weren’t willing to endanger their own – or their family’s – health. What if those workers were actually in the room making decisions about working conditions, hazard pay and how a company should operate in a crisis? Might things have played out differently? The idea is known as “democratized work” and though it’s pretty radical from an American capitalist point of view, it’s worked in some other countries. Why Does the US Government Have Its Own Global News Agency? (31:30) Guest: Nina Jankowicz, Wilson Center Disinformation Fellow, Author of “How to Lose the Disinformation War” Did you know that the United States government runs a news network that broadcasts on TV, radio and online? You probably won’t find it on your local cable listing, because it’s not really for American audiences. Voice of America is mainly for people in other countries and most of its content isn’t even in English. The Trump Administration has complained that Voice of America’s coverage is too critical of US policy and too favorable toward authoritarian regimes. And now President Trump has appointed a new CEO for the US Agency for Global Media, which oversees Voice of America and several other organizations with similar missions. The heads of those organizations all subsequently resigned or were dismissed. So, there’s concern the Trump Administration is planning to turn Voice of America into a propaganda arm of the government. Food Crisis Because of COVID19 & World Food Program’s Response (52:45) Guest: David Austin Is the Director of Strategic Partnerships, UN  World Food Programme COVID-19 has disrupted life as we know it across the globe, and its effects have been devastating. But in many places, the chances of getting sick from the virus are just the start. The UN World Food Programme estimates 130 million people worldwide could go hungry in 2020 because of the pandemic. That’s on top of 130 million people who were already facing acute food shortages. Processing a Pandemic (1:11:22) Guest: Susan Whitbourne, PhD, ABPP, Professor Emerita of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst We just heard about the pandemic’s effect on hunger globally. What about mental health? Will the stress of this all leave have a long-term effect especially on our brains? No Slipping and Sliding with New Shoe Technology (1:24:39) Guest:  Sahab Babaee, MIT Research Scientist Anyone who lives in a climate that gets much rain or snow knows sneakers are a risky option on a slippery day.  Sahab Babaee has developed a coating that can stick to a shoe sole for better grip. It’s inspired by a kind of Japanese paper-cutting art.  Cultivating a Child’s Natural Observation Skills (1:31:35) Guest:   Rachel Wadham, Host, Worlds Awaiting on BYUradio, Education and Juvenile Collections Librarian, BYU