Special 2/4/16: Afghan students and an US Iraq war veteran share their war and tea stories

Producer/Host: Carolyn Coe

Afghan students and an US Iraq war veteran share their war and tea stories.

Aaron Hughes, of Iraq Veterans Against the War, invited Afghan students to respond to the questions: “When did the war begin for you?” and “What are some of your tea stories and traditions?” He also shared his own stories and those of other US veterans who have spoken out against war. Hughes gave this tea performance at the Borderfree Nonviolence Community Centre in Kabul, Afghanistan, on December 27, 2015.

Guests:
Aaron Hughes, interdisciplinary artist, member of Iraq Veterans Against the War members of the Afghan Peace Volunteers (APVs) Hakim Young, interpreter, mentor to the APVs

http://tea-project.org/
http://amberginsburg.com/projects/tea.html
http://www.ivaw.org/
aarhughes.org
ourjourneytosmile.com

Video on casting the 779 porcelain teacups associated with the project:

Notes from the Electronic Cottage 2/4/16

Producer/Host: Jim Campbell

LAWS – Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems, or, as they are more commonly known, killer robots – are technically closer than we may think. But what about legally or morally? Will killer robots be the third great revolution in warfare after gunpowder and nuclear weapons? 20,000 scientists, including 3000 artificial intelligence researchers, think that answer should be “no.” Here’s why.

Maine Currents 2/3/16

Producer/Host: Amy Browne
Audio contributed by John Greenman

Segment 1: Bill Farrell, a University of Maine Ph.D. Candidate and Senior Advisor on Special Projects, for the international nonprofit Mercy Corps. speaking at the University last week on “The Syrian Refugee Crisis”.

Segment 2: We bring you to last week’s town council meeting in Bucksport, where a vote was held on withdrawing the town’s legal support of the state in Penobscot Nation v Mills, a lawsuit between the state and the Penobscot Nation.

Healthy Options 2/3/16

Host and Producer: Andrée Bella
Engineer: John Greenman

Program Topic: “A Different View of Depression and Addiction”

Key Discussion Points:
a) How does our culture contribute to depression? How is grieving done in the Mayan culture, and how is this different than in Western culture?
b) What is the relationship between depression, violence and war?
c) Can a whole culture be depressed? What are the consequences of this? Can these consequences be passed on to later generations?
d) What role can parents play in helping their children grow up in a culture where depression and addiction are no longer such a threat to the happiness and stability of everyone?
e) What is the relationship between grief and praise?
f) How can grief turn losses into beauty?

Guest: Martin Prechtel – author, social activist – director of the international school Bolad’s Kitchen

Reproductive Left 2/2/16

Producer/Host: Abbie Strout

Issue: Social and political issues that impact our sexual and reproductive health produced by WERU in collaboration with Mabel Wadsworth Women’s Health Center – www.mabelwadsworth.org.

Program Topic: Choice and Chocolate – Abortion Access in NB

Key Discussion Points:
a) This episode is a live recording of the event Choice and Chocolate held on January 21, 2016.
b) Discussion of abortion access in Canada and specifically in New Brunswick.
c) An intersectional conversation about how LGBT rights and abortion rights intersect.

Guests:
Allison Webster, Reproductive Justice New Brunswick
Hannah Gray, Reproductive Justice New Brunswick