The Obama Doctrine revealed? The ambiguous effects of nuclear energy and the fear it provokes. Santa Ana’s gentrification wars.
The Obama doctrine revealed?
Last night, President Barack Obama took to the airwaves to defend U.S. military involvement in Libya saying he refused to be a president who waited to take action in the face of a humanitarian disaster on a “horrific scale.” He did, however, stop short of calling for regime change saying that broadening the mission to that extent would be a mistake. Although the US took the initial lead in military action against Moammar Gadhafi's forces, Obama said the transition to NATO control will take place on this Wednesday. What is the reaction in Tripoli? What does this mean for the rebel forces? How are they reacting to the upcoming transfer of power? Are Gadafi's troops planning to retaliate? Meanwhile Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met with representatives of the Libyan opposition forces in London demonstrating the Obama administration’s desire to continue supporting the efforts of rebel leaders even as the president stressed the US will not act unilaterally in other conflicts. The "Obama Doctrine" is clearly the buzzword of the day in Washington, but what does this really amount to? Most importantly, what does it mean for other closely watched hot spots in the Middle East like Syria, Bahrain and Yemen?
Guests:
Borzou Daragahi, Middle East correspondent and Beirut bureau chief for the Los Angeles Times, currently in Tripoli
Doyle McManus, Washington columnist for LA Times
The ambiguous effects of nuclear energy and the fear it provokes
As problems continue at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant in Japan, the issue has been repeatedly raised of radioactivity’s potentially negative effects on humans. It’s generally accepted that too much exposure, especially among young children, can cause problems down the road—most notably, cancer. But the precise amounts of radioactivity and duration of time which prove harmful are not known. Most of these uncertainties are due to a lack of solid data. Even though the Chernobyl disaster provided a sample pool of humans to test for radiation exposure, corresponding data for cancer rates prior to the accident would be necessary for proper analysis. Such information is hard to come by. However, there are some things we know. For example, there were 6,000 cases of thyroid cancer in children after Chernobyl in the Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia – but not in Poland, where antidote pills were speedily distributed. This data is indisputable. Beyond the hard numbers, there is also the issue of fear associated with nuclear technology due to the dramatic nature of the accidents that do occur. What further information can be gleaned from these tragedies to learn more about the real risks of radiation exposure? How can that knowledge be used to prevent cancer and disease? What can be done to overcome skewed ideas and irrational fears about false risk?
Guests:
David J. Brenner, Ph.D., D.Sc.,, Professor of Radiation Biophysics; Director, Center for Radiological Research, Columbia University Medical Center
David Ropeik, Instructor of risk perception and risk communication at Harvard University; author of How Risky Is It, Really: Why Our Fears Don’t Always Match the Facts
Santa Ana’s gentrification wars
Does downtown Santa Ana need a face lift? The Santa Ana City Council has proposed multiple projects to upgrade housing and bring new business activity to the area. But some very vocal and active groups oppose this redevelopment. They argue that these changes will push out family owned businesses and negatively transform the character of downtown Santa Ana. On March 28, AirTalk went "on the road" to Libreria Martinez in Santa Ana to debate the pros and cons of that city’s revitalization process. Will the refurbishing of downtown Santa Ana improve or hurt the quality of life and well-being of residents there?
Bonus Web Audio: Audience questions and comments from the Santa Ana Event.
Guests
Carlos Bustamante, Santa Ana Councilman - Ward 3, Director of Administration at Orange County Public Works
Michele Martinez, Santa Ana Councilwoman – Ward 4 which includes the downtown area; Human Resources and Education Foundation Director
Eric Altman, Executive Director of OCCORD, Orange County Communities Organized for Responsible Development
Dr. Arturo Lomeli, dentist and Santa Ana property owner; President of the Santa Ana Coalition for Better Government.
Carolina Sarmiento, board member of El Centro Cultural de Mexico