To start things off, a look at the week’s world news headlines (1:41 – 3:13).
A senate foreign affairs committee report released last month criticized Canada’s aid agency, CIDA, of being ineffective and too bureaucratic. Dan gets former foreign affairs minister Lloyd Axworthy to tell us exactly what’s wrong, and what’s right, with CIDA (3:04 – 8:19).
Sudan is still torn by war and famine, but ordinary people like Glen Pearson and Jane Roy are still trying to help. Reporter Amanda Robinson takes us to the couple’s home to meet their six-year old daughter, Abuk, the first Sudanese child to be adopted by Canadians (8:20 – 14:26).
Gender selective abortions are a problem in China and India, but are they happening here in Canada as well? Julie talks to Baldev Mutta, of the Punjabi community health centre in Brampton, about the lengths some cultures may go to ensure the birth of a male child (14:46 – 18:24).
The war in Afghanistan continues, and for Canadian soldiers always in the line of fire, it’s nice to know there’s someone nearby to patch them up afterward. Warrant Officer Joanne Robertson comes to the studio to tell Dan about what it’s like training to be a better field medic (18:53 – 22:21).
And closer to home, Julie and Dan discuss the Colombian government’s involvement with right-wing paramilitary death squads in that country’s long-running civil war. With clips from Canadian activist Chris Stroud (22:12 – 26:36)
Links:
[1] http://rabble.ca/podcasts/shows/speak-easy
[2] http://rabble.ca/user
[3] http://rabble.ca/user/register