There's a vast media landscape in the Middle East - and religious extremists have unfortunately leveraged the power and reach of this media to spread an ideology of intolerance. But in the past few years, new broadcasters have taken up the fight, using their bully pulpit to fight back. This month on America Abroad, we learn about how the issue of religion is handled in the media throughout the Middle East. We hear about moderate religious clerics who are finding new ways to speak to young people, and how some liberal media personalities are finding creative new ways to broadcast programs that advance themes of pluralism and openness.

Fighting Extremism on Middle East Media

There may be no other actor on the world’s stage whose life has been as heavily documented as Muhammad Ali's. Yet for all the ways the legendary athlete and humanitarian’s life has been scrutinized and celebrated, few have attempted to tell the story of what he valued most: his spiritual evolution.

From America Abroad Media, The Muhammad Ali Center, and PRX, “The Universal Title” is a one hour radio special special on Muhammad Ali’s spiritual journey from Christianity to Islam — And what really made him ‘The Greatest.’ Hosted by Preacher Moss. Please check https://www.theuniversaltitle.com/ for more information about the show.

The Universal Title: Muhammad Ali's Spiritual Journey

It used to be that, in many parts of the world, educating a girl was not only a low priority but was prevented by social customs or economic pressures.  Now, in areas such as sub-Saharan Africa, India and war-torn areas such as Syria, girls are beginning to get a secondary school, and sometimes even, a college education.  On this edition of America Abroad, we will celebrate the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to the young Pakistani woman who is an activist for female education (Malala Yousafzai) and hear the reactions to that award from girls and women in oppressed places including Pakistan.  We have a report of a girl in rural India who suffered brutal beatings by her father but clung to her desire to get an education.  We'll hear first-person reports of girls in Kenya who resisted their families' efforts to sell them off as a child bride so that they could get an education.  And we'll examine the value of madrassas in educating girls in places like sub-Saharan Africa.

Global Girls' Education: Breaking Down Barriers

Every year, 15 million girls are forced into marriage, many of them before they turn 15. This month, America Abroad travels to Tanzania, Ethiopia, Nepal, and Pakistan to talk to individuals and organizations working to change laws and change minds about child marriage. We also talk to Mabel van Oranje, the founder of Girls Not Brides, who aims to end child marriage in one generation.

Saving Innocence: The Global Fight to End Child Marriage

A sense of mutual distrust has descended upon Amsterdam’s Muslim and Jewish communities. Anti-semitic attacks are on the rise and Jewish institutions are now guarded by police. Despite this, two activists -- one Jewish, and one Muslim -- have found common ground… and friendship, though not without personal cost. Jonathan Groubert shares this report.

Image Credit: Jonathan Groubert

Two Friends Find Common Ground in a Divided Holland

Interview with Kaydor Aukatsang, representative of the Dalai Lama in North America

Civil Resistance: The Power of the People

Katherine Lanpher and Ambassador Stapleton Roy discuss the politics of religion in China.

Featured guest: Ambassador Roy is the Director of the Kissinger Institute on China and the United States at the Woodrow Wilson Center. He was the US Ambassador to China from 1991 to 1995.

Faith in China

Anya Ardayeva reports from Moscow on the growing ties between the state and the Russian Orthodox Church that are causing tensions with other faiths in Russia. 

Field Report from Moscow, Russia

Katherine Lanpher talks to Brian Grim, author of "The Price of Freedom Denied: Religion, Persecution and Conflict in the 21st Century," about the rise of religious conflict and persecution around the world.

Rising Religious Conflict

Ray Suarez examines the history of the European Union, from coal and steel market to common currency, and how integration brought the continent from devastating conflict to unprecedented cooperation.

History of the EU

As the Trump administration begins ironing out its strategy in the Middle East, America Abroad examines what may lie ahead in regards to Israel, Syria, Iran, and the fight against ISIS.

Trump's Approach To Middle East

On this edition of America Abroad, we’ll circle the globe to see how various countries are tackling the issue of climate change since the historic Paris climate agreement. We check in on two of the world’s top carbon producers China and India. Both countries are committed to decreasing their carbon footprints but with different approaches. China is emphasizing innovation while India is focused on subsidizing the green energy market. And we visit two places where global warming is most dramatic, the Arctic and the North Africa. We learn about the limits the Canadian government has had in enacting national laws in the the face of strong opposition from industry and how the Moroccan monarchy is betting big on emerging green technology as a means to bolster its energy security. Finally we assess the US approach to climate change and why the military and others are calling for the Trump Administration to stay in the Paris Agreement.

After Paris: Global Approaches to Climate Change

Much of President Trump’s populist support comes from people who are deeply worried about globalization and immigration. But Trump’s pro-border wall, anti-NAFTA stance has strained US- Mexico relations. Can the two nations find common ground and work past the rhetoric? Join us for a lively town hall discussion linking experts and audiences in Washington, DC and Mexico City.

Beyond The Border: The Future of US-Mexico Relations

Despite companies' efforts to fight forgery, bogus Gucci bags seem as plentiful as ever. And today, counterfeiters are also ripping off drugs, car parts, and electronics that not only cost jobs, but also lives.

Field report from Ghana

On the front line in Oakland, California

The challenges of enforcing Intellectual Property rights

This hour, we'll talk about why trade was one of the biggest issues that got Donald Trump elected. What Americans stand to gain - and lose - by pulling out of trade deals. And what really happened to American manufacturing jobs. We’ll also see how the rest of the world is preparing for a massive shift in US policy, from a microbrewery in Tijuana to a medical manufacturer in Berlin.

Made in America: Trade Policy in the Trump Era

Ray Suarez looks back at the history of America’s relationship with the two Koreas. 

History of America’s relationship with the two Koreas

Lisa Schroeder talks to North Korean defectors living in Seoul to hear their insights into the recent leadership change in North Korea and their hopes for the future of the country they left behind.


North Korean defectors

Ray Suarez talks to Victor Cha and Scott Snyder about what Kim Jong-il’s death will mean for the future relations between America and the two Koreas and what— if  any— changes are likely to come from North Korea in the future. 

Future relations with North Korea

Never before has the threat of a nuclear missile from North Korea been more pressing. “Even in a conventional conflict, within the first few days you would have anywhere from 30,000 to 300,000 deaths," said North Korea expert Frank Aum. "Obviously, those numbers go up exponentially when you have a nuclear weapon involved.”

Meanwhile, the Trump administration has sent mixed signals about the potential for detente. President Trump used his November visit to Asia to reinforce a policy of “maximum pressure” against the North Korean government. But he also hinted at the possibility of a diplomatic off-ramp in the dispute over North Korea’s missile and nuclear weapons development.

North Korea and the United States have offered signals of openness to diplomacy. But how real is that possibility?

Leading experts on North Korea and nuclear proliferation gathered at the United States Institute of Peace for a town hall discussion, moderated by Todd Zwillich, host of The Takeaway.

Panelists:

Frank Aum - Senior expert on North Korea at USIP and former senior advisor on North Korea at the office of the Secretary of Defense

Jean Lee - Global fellow at the Wilson Center and former chief of the Associated Press Pyongyang bureau

Anthony Ruggiero - Senior fellow at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies and former government expert on sanctions and nuclear proliferation

Glyn Ford - Former European Parliament member and author of North Korea on the Brink: Struggle for Survival

Brinkmanship  US - North Korea Relations

Massive document leaks have led to the fall of world leaders and to new anti-corruption laws. But some leaks have put lives in danger. So is there a  limit to the public’s right to know?

Document Leaks: The consequences of revealing secrets

While Europe was in the Dark Ages, scientific discovery was blooming in the Islamic World. Now, centuries after being eclipsed by the West, some Muslim countries are making new investments in space exploration.

Islam and the Cosmos

Iran's nuclear ambitions have the world watching, and few countries are watching closer than Israel, which has raised the possibility of pre-emptive military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Linda Gradstein reports.


"Will Israel launch a military strike to stop Iran from becoming a nuclear power? That question is being debated in Jerusalem, Washington, Teheran, and throughout the Middle East. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly said a nuclear Iran would be an existential threat to the Jewish state, and many here say an Israeli attack could be launched in the next few months. Others say Israel won’t launch a strike without coordinating with the US, which is in no hurry to get caught up in another military campaign. 

Tel Aviv does not feel like a city about to go to war. Restaurants and cafes are packed. Traffic is as snarled as always. The Tel Aviv marathon drew 25,000 runners through the city streets. But scratch just beneath the surface, and residents here, like 25 year old Jasmine Bensal, say they are very concerned about the situation with Iran.

“It's a very scary situation,” says Bensal, “If it's going to start with Iran, it's going to be a big big problem, not only for us. If it's going to be a worse situation, if they're going to have a bomb, yes, we need to do something.”





To read the rest of this segment, visit us here http://bit.ly/HvtOO4

Field report: Will Israel strike at Iran?

Since nuclear weapons were developed, the world has struggled to stop them from spreading. Host Katherine Lanpher takes us through the history of nuclear non-proliferation, from Hiroshima to today.

History of nuclear non-proliferation

Europe is imposing tough sanctions on Iran, restricting oil purchases and other business. Megan Williams reports from Brussels, Berlin, and Italy, on the impact sanctions could have on oil, and business in general, in Europe.

Field report: The view from Europe

The international community is engaging in a new round of talks with Iran, trying to break a stalemate over nuclear weapons inspections. Host Katherine Lanpher and her guests discuss the potential of the talks and the next possible steps for the Obama administration.

For a transcript of this segment as well as multimedia features, visit us here http://bit.ly/HhN2Xq

What's next? A roundtable discussion

This hour: why some states become fragile; how it affects the people who live there; and the US approach to getting fragile states back on their feet. We’ll focus on the conflict in Syria - the site of one of the worst humanitarian crises in recent memory. What is the US doing right and where is our foreign policy falling short? Finally, we’ll look what happens when the US and other democracies ignore fragile states and leave the rebuilding to authoritarian regimes like China.

Much of the program is a town hall discussion we held on March 19, 2018.

Syria and Fragile States

Revelations of Russian meddling in the 2016 US presidential election were a shock to Americans. But it wasn't quite as surprising to people in former Soviet states and the EU.

For years they've been exposed to Russian disinformation and slanted state media; before that Soviet propaganda filtered into the mainstream. We don't know how effective Russian information warfare was in swaying the US election. But we do know these tactics have roots going back decades and will most likely be used for years to come.

This hour, we’ll hear stories of Russian disinformation and attempts to sow chaos in Europe and the United States. 

We’ll learn how Russia uses its state-run media to give a platform to conspiracy theorists and how it invites viewers to doubt the accuracy of other news outlets.

And we’ll look at the evolution of internet trolling from individuals to large troll farms.

And — finally — what can be done to counter all this?

Sowing Chaos: Russia's Disinformation Wars

It's been called the most successful alliance in world history. President Obama and fellow leaders of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, NATO, are meeting at an important summit in Chicago this month to discuss the future of the alliance.

NATO troops have now spent a decade in Afghanistan, and more recently, NATO airpower helped to overthrow Moammar Ghaddafi in Libya. But in the face of economic stress, and war-weary publics in the United States and Europe, how will the alliance move forward?

Field report: lessons from Libya

After the summit: what's next for NATO?

In May, Iraqis went to the polls to elect a new national parliament. It was the first election since the defeat of ISIS in Iraq. And in a surprise turn, a coalition led by controversial cleric Muqtada al-Sadr—a staunch opponent of both U.S. and Iranian influence in Iraq—won the most seats. 

How will this shape the next phase of Iraqi politics? And what will this mean for the US?

We explored these questions in our town hall discussion at the United States Institute of Peace in Washington, DC.

Featuring Ken Pollack (American Enterprise Institute), Denise Natali (National Defense University), and Sarhang Hamasaeed (USIP).

Iraqs Next Steps FULL

At Kasr-al-Yahud, dozens of pilgrims pray on the banks of the Jordan River. Dressed in white, they prepare to immerse themselves in the muddy green water at this spot where Christian tradition says John the Baptist baptized Jesus.

They enter the water one a time, completely immersing themselves, including their faces in the river. Many fill up small plastic bottles to take home with them.

A small sign in the parking lot, easily missed, says the water is not drinkable. But these pilgrims don’t seem to care.

Later in the gift shop, Father Sinesius Victoratus from Greece, says the baptism is a culmination of a dream for many of these pilgrims.

He says the religious experience over-rides any fear that the water may be polluted. “It seems not to be so clean, but if we bless it with the Holy Spirit, and all the liturgy is very clean, then we can drink from it. We take as a blessing bottles so as to have to drink.”

As the pilgrims immerse themselves, Gideon Bromberg cringes. Bromberg, Israeli director of Friends of the Earth Middle East, says the water is polluted. 

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To read more from this segment, visit us here http://bit.ly/LJ7Jtq

The politics of the Jordan River

In the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti in 2010, access to clean water was nearly impossible. A New Jersey mayor responded to this emergency with a sophisticated act of generosity. James Luce reports from Rahway, New Jersey. 


Quentin Kelly is the chairman and CEO of World Water and Solar Technologies, near Princeton University. He’s got water on his mind, or perhaps the scarcity of it as a resource.

“It’s a very significant matter that is a specter that should be haunting us. Our whole system is set up for the purpose of supplying water, for irrigation, or for purifying water for drinking.”

He’s been around the world to see conditions on the front lines of the world’s disasters, and he’s seen the need for clean water with his own eyes.

A portable machine about the size of two desks, manufactured by World Water and Solar, uses sunshine to convert about 30,000 gallons of biologically polluted water into clean water each day. It also creates a 3.3 kilowatt array to generate electricity where there is no grid.

This was a big deal after the Haitian earthquake.

“On the day of the earthquake, I was able to reach my mother. I spoke to her within five hours of the earthquake,” says Nadine Leslie, from United Water, a water management company based in New Jersey. “There’s no recycling facilities in Haiti. We had to identify a solution.”

Thanks to a call from Jim Kennedy, mayor of Rahway, New Jersey, Nadine found her answer.

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To read more from this segment, visit us here http://bit.ly/KPpcUS

Mitigating Haiti's water emergency

In this episode we’re looking to answer the big question of whether or not the country is safer than before 9/11. There hasn’t been a big terrorist attack on our soil since then, ISIS has lost almost all its territory in Iraq and Syria, Bin Laden is dead, and yet there are still thousands of extremist fighters out there and their ideology persists in attracting new recruits.

To get a sense of what was proposed and how far we’ve come, we’ll hear from both a Commissioner of the 9/11 Commission as well as it’s director.

We’re focusing on the efforts made by the Obama and Bush administrations. We ask top officials from those State Departments what they did to counteract extremist ideology - where they succeeded and where they failed.
And we’ll go to Lebanon where the U.S. is funding a local anti-terrorist organization, and making an impact one individual at a time.

Experts on this episode:

Daniel Benjamin: Norman E. McCulloch Jr. Director of the John Sloan Dickey Center for International Understanding, Dartmouth College. Former Ambassador-at-Large and Coordinator for Counterterrorism, U.S. State Department.

Rukmini Callamachi: Reporter, New York Times and Host of podcast Caliphate.

Nicholas J Cull:  Professor and Director, Master of Public Diplomacy program at USC Annenberg School for Communiation and Journalism.

Osama Gharizi: Regional Program Manager, Middle East at United States Institute of Peace.

James Glassman: Former Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, US State Department. Former Chairman, Broadcasting Board of Governors.

Stephen Hadley: Chair Board of Directors, United States Insitute of Peace. Former National Security Advisor under George W. Bush.

Lee Hamilton: Former Member of US House of Representatives (D-OH). Former Vice-chair, 9/11 Commission.

Tara Sonenshine: Former Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs under Barack Obama. Senior Career Coach, George Washington University's Elliot School of Interiontaional Affairs.

Phillip Zelikow, Former Executive Director of 9/11 Commission.  J. Wilson Newman Professor of Governance and Professor of History at the University of Virginia,

Combating Extremist Ideology Since 9/11

In the wake of all the political change in the Middle East, Islamist governments are on the rise and with them are concerns about the rights of religious minorities.

The Middle East is largely Muslim but it’s also the birthplace of Christianity, Judaism, and many other religions. Many non-Muslims have left in recent decades, leaving relatively small populations of non-Muslims—and Muslim minority sects.

Now, the rise of Islamist political parties in the Mideast raises questions about the rights and protections such minorities can expect or whether they can expect them at all.

Syria’s Alawi population

Ray Suarez talks with experts Manuel Suarez-Mier and Eric Olson about the country’s future under its next president, Enrique Peña Nieto. 

What will Mexico look like under new leadership?

The roundtable discussion continues with experts weighing in on the future of the euro, the effect of Europe’s crisis on the global economy, and what it will mean for the next administration. 

The US, EU and the future of the euro

There is bipartisan consensus that unleashing America's entrepreneurial potential is vital to reviving the economy. Yet, there are many challenges facing today’s entrepreneur, from local regulatory and tax burdens to federal visa restrictions. This month’s episode of America Abroad : "American entrepreneurship in a Global Economy" explores the topic in depth and is part of a four-part series on entrepreneurship. 

Chicago’s tech industry: Reviving the Rust Belt

Nas al-Ghiwan is often described as one of the most influential bands of the last 40 years in Morocco. Joseph Braude explores the band’s cultural and political significance among Moroccans of all ages. 

The 'Rolling Stones' of Morocco

America Abroad is an award-winning documentary radio program distributed by Public Radio International (PRI) and broadcast on NPR stations nationwide. Each month, we take an in-depth look at one critical issue in international affairs and US foreign policy.

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